William "Bill" P. Cota

William P. “Bill” Cota of Wausau, 78, passed away in the early morning of Friday, October 28, 2022, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Bill was born August 18, 1944, in Wausau and is the son of the late Wilfred P. and Ruth (Erdman) Cota. On August 23, 1969, he married Alberta “Bertie” Wienke at St. Anne Catholic Church in Wausau. She survives. Bill also served honorably in the Army National Guard for six years, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant and Armor Crewman with multiple sharpshooter qualifications.

After a brief stint in Iowa, Bill moved his growing family to Birnamwood, WI where he worked for Banner Banks for more than 36 years. He managed the installation of the bank’s first computer, led through the growth of multiple branches, sat on the board, and retired as the Bank President in 2010. Being very active in the village, Bill was a founding member of the Birnamwood Development Corporation, which brought long-term infrastructure, business, and financial support to the community. He was also a Cub Scout Leader and active in the Birnamwood Lions Club for over 10 years.

Spending many days in the outdoors of Central and Northern Wisconsin as a child and an adult, Bill enjoyed hunting (deer, grouse, turkey, bear, and goose), fly fishing for bass and crappie, and camping with his family for more than 30 years. Bill was the consummate family-man balancing efforts between parents, siblings, wife, his children, and spending special time with his grandkids.

Bill’s survivors include his wife, Bertie Cota of Wausau, his children, Tania (Mike) Spofford of Green Bay and Todd (Matt Sloan) Cota of Seattle, WA, his grandchildren, Robbie Spofford of Buffalo, NY and Kelsey Spofford of Green Bay, his brother, Ronald Cota of Wausau and Kay (Joe) Herman of Wausau, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Jean (Allen) Lierman of Wausau and his brother James (Nancy) Cota of Kingsport, TN.

A Memorial Mass to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 4, with a preceding visitation period starting at 9:00 AM—both at the Church of the Resurrection on Second Street in Downtown Wausau. The Rev. Eric Mashak will preside. Inurnment will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, on Friday afternoon. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is managing the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.