May 1, 1941 – February 21, 2016

 Bill was born May 1, 1941 to Milton T. & Catherine M. (Markulin) Greene of Los Angeles, CA.

With the passing of his mother in 1945, he moved to Northport, MI with his father and there lived with his grandmother (Katherine Greene) until his father remarried to Viola Bissell Hovey in 1949. Bill attended Northport public schools until his parents moved to Traverse City, MI in 1951. Bill attended Traverse City Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1959.

Bill served in the US Army (E-5) from April 1960 to July 1963 as a dental technician. He was assigned to the US Army in Muenchweiler, Germany. Bill was appointed as the acting First Sergeant of his unit, the 124th Medical Detachment (DS), during his 2-year tenure in Germany.

Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the service in Europe, Bill purchased a brand new Volkswagen 1500. He was joined by a fellow ex-soldier (Matt Huusko) as they began traveling for the next several months throughout Southern Europe, across North Africa to Egypt.

After enjoying many sites (i.e. the pyramids of Giza) and many adventures on that segment of their travels, Bill and his friend sailed from Egypt to Greece. After touring the sites of ancient Greece, they began the last segments of the trips by returning to Germany. Bill reported to Bremerhaven, Germany where he and his car put aboard ship and sailed to the United States.

Bill began his college career in 1963 at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), graduating with an Associate of Arts Degree. After graduating from NMC, Bill worked for one year as a patrolman for the City of Traverse City Police Department. He then completed his undergraduate studies (BA) at Michigan State University in 1968. Bill was accepted to the Georgia State University graduate program in Hospital Administration, graduating with a MHA degree in 1970.

Bill then began his nearly forty-year career in healthcare management. During his career he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Nursing Home in Hillsboro, WI and CEO of Memorial Hospital of Iowa County, which was created after Bill directed the merger of two existing community hospitals in Dodgeville, WI. In 1968 Bill was appointed as a Vice President of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) and Administrator of College Hospitals and Clinics.

Bill again directed the merger of two hospitals to create a 200+ bed teaching hospital for KCOM. Bill went on to be the Vice President of Traverse City Osteopathic Hospital (1985), CEO of Selby General Hospital, Marietta, OH (1989), CEO of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, Santa Paula, CA (1996) and finally the CEO of Catalina Island Medical Center, Avalon, CA (2001), where he retired from in 2007.

On August 5, 1990 he married Patricia (Trish) Shelander. They traveled extensively throughout the U.S. A large part of those travels were related to Bill’s career, including hospital inspections for the American Osteopathic Association and business meetings related to Bill’s professional employment as a healthcare manager.

Bill obtained his private pilot’s license in 1971 (a life long dream). Bill purchased a Cessna 172 in 1972, which he flew for the next 43 years, flying from the Canadian Border to Florida, and from West Virginia to California, and many other trips along the way, accumulating nearly 2000 hours of flying time. This was his major hobby, which he used for both business and pleasure. Bill also had a more than passing interest in personal computers.

Survivors include his wife, Trish of Santa Paula, CA; daughter Kate Schmidt of Traverse City, MI; daughter Christine Hutchings of Ypsilanti, MI; daughter Pamela Russell of Brighton, CO; son Michael Kloberdans of Brighton, CO; daughter Susan Witmer of Leadville, CO; daughter Jill Bowe of Thornton, CO; half-brother Howard Greene of Traverse City, MI; stepbrother Clarence Hovey of Michigan City, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Arrangements for Bill are under the care of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 East Main Street, Ventura.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Memorial Services are pending.

I’M FREE

Don’t grieve for me, 

for now I’m free;

I’m following the path 

God laid for me.

I took his hand when 

I heard him call;

I turned my back 

and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, 

to work or play.

Tasks left undone 

must stay that way;

I found that place 

at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, 

a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, 

I too, will miss.

Be not burdened 

with times of sorrow;

I wish you the 

sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, 

I savored much;

Good friends, good times, 

a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time 

‘seemed all to brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undo grief.

Lift up your heart ‘and share with me;

God wanted me now, 

He set me free