William L. Bigelow

A memorial service was Sunday for Genoa businessman William L. Bigelow, 79, who died of lymphoma cancer June 4, 2009, at his home in Gardnerville.

Born Nov. 15, 1929, in Syracuse N.Y., he moved to Matteson, Ill., with his parents at an early age.

After graduating from Bloom High School, he entered the U.S. Army. He was stationed overseas in Germany as a combat engineer.

After serving with the Army, Mr. Bigelow started a construction company building homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. Years later he attended college and graduated as a design engineer.

Soon after Mr. Bigelow took a job with Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, Calif., working there for 30 years until his retirement in 1992.

More recently he was owner of Town and Country Realty in Genoa.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen Bigelow and his three children; Bruce Bigelow, Allison Bigelow and Brad Bigelow, and stepchildren; Diane Blair and Jeff Blair.

Services took place at the home of his close friends. Final arrangements were in the care of Autumn Funerals & Cremations.