William J. Hayes II, age 94, of Marshall formerly of Shelby, died on Thursday night, Oct. 29, 2009 at Maplewood of Marshall. Bill was born August 4, 1915 in Chicago, IL to William J. and Mary (Shea) Hayes. He grew up in Chicago and graduated from St. Patrick Academy in 1933
On December 31, 1940 he was married to Madeline “Dolly” Campagna. The couple moved to Shelby, Michigan near Dolly’s family after their marriage.
Shortly after moving to Shelby he was inducted into the U.S. Army on Dec. 29, 1943. He was deployed to the European Theatre and served with the 45th Division Thunderbirds as a BAR rifleman. Bill fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and was wounded near Grotzenbruck, France on Jan. 18, 1945. After treatment for his wounds he returned to his unit and was one of the first liberating Army units to reach the Dachau Concentration Camp in May 1945. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 10, 1945 and returned home to his family. Bill had earned the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for his courage and performance under fire.
He and Dolly and their young family returned to Chicago where Bill attended Loyola University earning a B.S. in Psychology in 1951. Later in life he earned a Masters In Education from Western Michigan University.
The couple returned to Shelby in 1956 and made their home on the farm they purchased. Bill taught in a one room school near Shelby and farmed asparagus, cherries, apples and other fruits.. Later in his career he taught special education at Orchard View School in Muskegon until his retirement. Dolly preceded in death in 1995. Mr. Hayes moved to Marshall in 2001.
He was a member of the Claude E. Hale Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post #4073 and the Executive Club in Marshall and Our Lady Of Fatima Catholic Church in Shelby. Bill volunteered his time to speak at Marshall High School to classes about WWII. He enjoyed fishing at their cottage near Au Train in the Upper Peninsula.
Surviving are his daughter Rosemary (Ray) Davis of Marshall, his son William J. (Shirley) Hayes III of Shelby, 7 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 2 brothers John “Bud” Hayes and Robert “Bob” Hayes both of Chicago, IL; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Edward Hayes, 2 brothers Phillip Hayes and Vincent Hayes, and a sister Winifred Czeropski.
Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 723 Old 27 North, Marshall on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 4PM to 7PM.
On Monday evening there will be visitation at the Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., in Shelby with a Rosary Service to be held at 7:30PM.
Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 11AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Shelby with Rev. Phillip Witkowski officiating.
Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Shelby Township. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the Robert W. Wiswell VFW Post #9441 in Shelby or Oaklawn Hospice.
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