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Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft

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Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft

Birth	:	6 Apr 1927 Bath Township, Brown County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	17 May 2015 Madison, Lake County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Saint Lawrence Cemetery, Saint Lawrence, Hand County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.5292015, -98.9321976
Plot	:	Blk 5 Lot 334 Grave 1
Description	:	Gerald William "Bill" Chalcraft of Madison, SD died Sunday, May 17, 2015, at home surrounded by his family at the age of 88 of complications from pneumonia. Bill was a cancer survivor. Following a diagnosis in 2007, his cancer was still in remission at the time of his death. Bill was born April 6, 1927, in Bath Twp. Brown County, SD to Raymond B. and Rose E. (Lorenz) Chalcraft. The third of 6 sons and a daughter, he joined brothers Don and Tom and enlisted in the US Navy at age 16 where he entered the... Read More	Gerald William "Bill" Chalcraft of Madison, SD died Sunday, May 17, 2015, at home surrounded by his family at the age of 88 of complications from pneumonia. Bill was a cancer survivor. Following a diagnosis in 2007, his cancer was still in remission at the time of his death. Bill was born April 6, 1927, in Bath Twp. Brown County, SD to Raymond B. and Rose E. (Lorenz) Chalcraft. The third of 6 sons and a daughter, he joined brothers Don and Tom and enlisted in the US Navy at age 16 where he entered the War in 1944 as a Navy Frogman and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Following World War II, Bill ran cross country for the Navy before returning to South Dakota. On June 2, 1947, "Bill" and LaVelle "Rae" Lanz, daughter of Louie William Lanz and Myrtle LaVelle (Jackson) Lanz, were married at the St. Lawrence Community Church and settled in Hand County. There he was active in SD Amateur Baseball while he worked for Porter's Gas in Miller and then managed the local co-op in St. Lawrence. Bill and Rae moved to Madison in 1967 where he delivered propane for F&M Co-op for a while before buying the DX Service Station. Chalcraft Oil Co. was a full service gas station and bulk fuels supplier for area farmers. Upon retiring in 1980, Bill had the station building moved to his hobby farm where it still stands with his bulk fuel delivery truck. G.W. "Bill" was elected to serve three terms as a Lake County Commissioner, where for 12 years he was a strong advocate for higher wages. As he called it, a living wage for the people of Lake County. During his tenure he traveled to Washington, DC for congressional hearings representing the residents of Lake County and South Dakota. Bill was instrumental in bringing the Every Citizens Counts (ECCO) program to Lake County and an avid supporter for many years of Aim High, an alternative high school in Madison. During retirement, Bill and Rae enjoyed 19 winters in Mesa, AZ where they were very active 'rock hounds' for the jewelry they designed and made. Another passion they shared together was making and restoring stained glass windows and lamps. Spring, summer and fall they could be found traveling to numerous football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, track, cross country events and dance recitals to support their grandchildren. Bill was recognized as a life saver and given awards for swimming far out to rescue two teenagers who had fallen from inner tubes on Lake Louise; performing the Heimlich on a gentleman at dinner in Las Vegas and pulling a man from a burning semi-tractor which had left the road way ending up in a creek south of Huron. Bill was preceded in death by Rae, his wife of 66 years; his parents Ray & Rose; brothers Don, infant Albert, Tom, and Doug. He is survived by his daughters, Diane Chalcraft, Madison, SD and Jerrilyn Blair & Gordie Anderson, Madison, SD and his son Bill & Carol Chalcraft, Pierre, SD. Also surviving are his brother Cookie (Duane) Chalcraft, Buffalo Gap, SD and sister Penny & Larry Meagher, Box Elder, SD. Grandchildren: Shannon & Jason Grosdidier, Wenatchee, WA, Tony & Victoria Blair, Rapid City, SD Tom Blair & Lindsey Workman, Show Low, AZ, Jake Chalcraft, Laramie WY, Jenna Chalcraft, Laramie WY, Jessica Chalcraft (USD) Vermillion, SD and Jamie Chalcraft (SDSU) Brookings, SD. Great Grandchildren: Riley, Tatum, Karah & Logan Grosdidier, Connor Blair, and Curtis Chalcraft-Hoffman. Arrangements: Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Inurnment: St. Lawrence Community Cemetery in Hand County, SD.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft's memorial?
Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft's memorial is located at: Saint Lawrence Cemetery, Saint Lawrence, Hand County, USA.
When did Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft death?
Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft death on 17 May 2015 in Madison, Lake County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Gerald William “Bill” Chalcraft's memorial?
Latitude: 44.5292015
Longitude: -98.9321976

Family Members:

Parent

Raymond B Chalcraft

(1901 - 1986)

Rose Elizabeth Lorenz Chalcraft

(1901 - 1966)

Spouse

Siblings

Donald Raymond Chalcraft

(1921 - 1996)

Albert L Chalcraft

(1924 - 1924)

Thomas Matthew Chalcraft

(1925 - 2002)

Douglas L Chalcraft

(1937 - 1986)

Duane Paul “Cookie” Chalcraft

(1941 - 2021)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Lawrence Cemetery
Saint Lawrence, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5292015, -98.9321976

2. Saint Ann's Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5222015, -98.9732971

3. G A R Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5078011, -98.9858017

4. Hillcrest Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5207000, -99.0006100

5. Beulah Cemetery
Vayland, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6060982, -98.8060989

6. Sunbeam Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6777992, -98.8407974

7. Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4574400, -98.7100400

8. Wessington Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4569016, -98.7102966

9. Morningside Cemetery
Ree Heights, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5147018, -99.1903000

10. Alden Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6775017, -99.1203003

11. Burdette Cemetery
Burdette, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7002983, -98.7869034

12. McCord Cemetery
Wessington, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3998500, -98.6673100

13. Buffalo Cemetery
Spink County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6918983, -98.6853027

14. Howell Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757988, -98.9766998

15. Rosehill Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2980995, -98.7731018

16. Saint Johns Cemetery
Tulare, Spink County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7202988, -98.6600037

17. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Polo, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7827988, -99.1097031

18. Sand Creek Cemetery
Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3055800, -98.6791200

19. Garfield Cemetery
Spink County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6622009, -98.5535965

20. Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2106018, -98.9056015

21. Bonilla Cemetery
Bonilla, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5830994, -98.4835968

22. Saint Michaels Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8302994, -99.1106033

23. Cedar Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2775002, -99.2238998

24. New Zion Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2043991, -98.8206024