William Alfred Van Dusen

Eee ee vee August 9, 1936 ~ July 5, 2011 A kind and gentle man left his family after courageously fighting a battle he just coulda’t win. He may have lost the battle, but he won the war and found peace at last. William Alfred Van Dusen, 74, of Linesville passed away at home on Tuesday, July 05, 2011, holding his wife’s hand and with Paul and Bonnie by his side. He was born August 9, 1936 in Meadville, to Paul Van Dusen and Mary Young Van Dusen Dewey and stepson of Joseph Dewey. He was educated in Line: Erie. Bill proudly served with the U, Vy Pennsylvania National Guard and was honorably discharged with the sank of Sergeant. He spent his working years as a machinist at several Erie companies. Bill loved to read, enjoyed genealogy, history, fishing and especially spending time with his son, Paul, attending auctions to find junk to turn into treasures. He was a good man who did all he could to help his children become the fine adults they are today, Bill leaves to cherish his memory and mourn his loss his beloved wife and best friend Anne (Bunny) (Niemiec) Van Dusen whom he married June 3, 2004. Dad and Pops leaves a hole in the hearts of his children and their spouses, Paul and Bonnie (his “favorite” daughter-in-law) Van Dusen, Kathy and Ken Brubaker all of Linesville, and Steven Van Dusen of Gillette, Wyoming. Papa will also be greatly missed by his granddaughters, Nikki Harper of Linesville and Ariel Van Dusen of Springboro and great grandsons, Dakota and Dustin Harper, both of Linesville. Bill will also be missed by sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan Malone, Jackie and Larry Shartle, Dan and Dawn Niemiec and Jim Kolhoff and his companion Sue ‘Thompson. His fury constant companions, Riley and Brandy will miss their Papa so much. Besides his parents and stepfather, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Ann Stroup Van Dusen who passed away in 2001, his brother, Paul who died in infancy, his brother, Carl and his beloved Aunt Goldie Dooley. Family and friends are invited to say a final farewell at Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville on Friday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Linesville Cemetery with full military honors provided by Huidekoper Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2006, In licu of flowers, please consider donations to the Erie VA Medical Center Hospice Unit, 135 East 38th St., Erie, Pa 16504 or the Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, Pa 16335. Dad and Bunny would especially like to thank Paul and Bonnie for always being here for us. Bill’s family would also like to extend a very special thank you to Carla, Kathy, Kelly, Karen and Dick who helped us through so much. Please wait for us at Rainbow Bridge, Billy. We all love and miss you beyond measure.