SHERBORN: Wilfred R. “Bill” Bekebrede, age 93, of Sherborn, a retired chemist at Raytheon and Sperry Rand/Unisys, died on September 1, 2016 after a prolonged illness. The beloved husband of 66 years of Ann E. (Gantert) Bekebrede, loving father of Elaine Bekebrede Taylor of Rehoboth Beach, DE, Kenneth A. Bekebrede and his wife Gail of Millis, and Kurt Bekebrede Gantrish and his wife Jennifer of Hanover, NH, and devoted grandfather of Jason, Daniel, Keegan, Liam, Benjamin, Nolan, and Mason, Bill is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Sr. Ann X. Gantert, SSJ, and Mary Gantert, both of Rochester, NY, and many nieces and nephews.
Born in Saint Louis, MO, Bill was the son of the late George H. and Elvira (Buk) Bekebrede. Bill was raised and educated in Webster Groves, MO. While in his junior year at the University of Missouri, he enlisted in the US Navy and served as an Electronics Machinist’s Mate Petty Officer 3rd Class until the close of World War II. He then completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Washington University.
Bill and Ann were married in 1950, and during the early years of their marriage lived in Columbus, OH, while Bill earned his Master’s in Chemistry from Ohio State University. The couple then lived briefly in Illinois prior to settling in Watertown in 1954 when Bill started work with Raytheon. By 1962 their family was growing and the Bekebredes settled into a home in Sherborn. After a brief stint with NASA in 1969, he was employed with Sperry Rand/Unisys until his retirement in 1988. He and Ann enjoyed traveling across the US and Canada and made several European trips. Bill also enjoyed hiking and camping and caring for his home and family.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Bekebrede family at Pilgrim Church, 25 South Main Street (Route 27), Sherborn, on Saturday, September 17th from 11:00AM until 2:00PM.
Gifts may be made in Bill’s memory to the Salvation Army, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021 (http://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/).