William C. Vehmeier died Feb. 15, 2005, after an extended illness. He was 83 years old.

Mr. Vehmeier was born in Rock Island, Ill., Oct. 22, 1921, and moved to Vashon in 1942. Bill was a proud World War II veteran and served his country in the Army Airborne.

Bill lived and worked on Vashon in various jobs, including bartending in the Alibi’s Beach Shanty, the Spinnaker Restaurant and the Vashon Tavern (now Bishop’s Pub) until 1989, when he moved to Ocean Shores, Wash., to retire near his friend Bob Ryan.

Survivors include his sisters Shirley Lyon and Patricia Tetwiler, nieces and nephews Linda Baff and her son John Rogers, Debrah Ray and her daughter and granddaughter Lisa and Alexis Irons, Terrisa and Carey Anderson and their children Devon Anderson and Jacob Tetwiler, Donald Pearson and his children Marissa, Elizabeth and granddaughter Julian, Jerry Robert and Laura Lyon and their children Christopher and Abigail.

His parents, Walter and Vivian, Gates and brother Dick Vehmeier died earlier. His brother, Larry Gates, died April 19, 2005.

At his request, no services were held. Memorial donations in his name can be made to the American Diabetes Association.