"Bill" Elmer Willard Ogren

"Bill" Elmer Willard Ogren June 7, 1943 – February 28, 2025 

Born in Blue Island, Illinois. Resident of Mesa, Arizona.

When it comes to legacy, there is no greater mark than the lessons we pass on—lessons of kindness, acceptance, and the courage to challenge the world as we know it. Bill was raised in a time and place where differences were often met with words that stung and biases that lingered. But he refused to let the past dictate his future. Instead, he created an atmosphere where his children and grandchildren could explore their own beliefs, question long-held assumptions, and even push him to see the world through a wider lens. And though he was famously stubborn, he listened. He grew. He changed—not always easily, not always willingly, but always with love in his heart. 

Faith was once a cornerstone of his life, yet he came to understand that true spirituality wasn’t confined to an hour on Sunday. It was found in everyday acts of grace, in the simple yet profound recognition that we are all doing the best we can with the lives we’ve been given. 

An avid fisherman, he spent his later years chasing the elusive muskie, always in pursuit of that legendary 50-incher. It was, perhaps, the perfect metaphor for his life—a relentless pursuit of something rare and extraordinary, only to release it back into the wild, knowing that the fight was never about possession but about the experience itself. “We can fight,” he often said, “but I will always set you free.” 

Though he never pursued a formal degree, Bill’s greatest education came from life itself. He learned through quiet reflection, the willingness to listen and grow, and, most of all, the unconditional love he gave to those around him. His greatest legacy is not written in words but in the lives he touched. His children and grandchildren will carry forward the lessons he lived: that kindness is stronger than prejudice, that listening is more powerful than judgment, and that, above all, home is a place where love is given freely and without condition. 

Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Karen; his children, Jeff and wife Leila; Kelly and husband Brian; Michelle and husband Brian; his seven grandchildren - Ryan, Kaylee, Josh, Rylee, Elyse, Kira and Gavin; and four beloved grand-dogs. 

May he rest in peace, knowing that the ripples of his life will continue on, like the gentle wake of a boat gliding across the water trying to locate the next big muskie—never truly gone, only moving beyond sight.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona: https://btarboretum.org/donate/