Obituary of William Chisholm

Bill passed away peacefully on July 3, 2023, surrounded by the love of his devoted family. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Amelia May, and his children Margo Wehrenberg, Catherine (Harvey) Strosberg, Martha (John) Lot, John (Sophia) Chisholm, Mary (Randy) Sweet, and Anne Marie (Raffaele) Desando. Bill will be forever remembered as a tender and adoring grandfather by his grandchildren Matthew, Angela, Marni, Franklin, Nicholas, Jonathon, Marco, Ava, Mila, Adam, Emma, Hannah, Joshua, and Samuel; and by his 13 great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents John (1971) and Jessie Anne (2000), by his dear son-in-law Dr. Richard (“Dick”) Wehrenberg (2020), and by his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law. He is survived by his only sibling and sister, Genevieve Deslippe, by his brothers-in-law Kalil (Jackie) Bahri and Joe (Judy) Bahri, and by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces/nephews.

Bill was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia on September 13, 1932 and was always staunchly proud of his East coast heritage. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Windsor in 1942 and proudly called Windsor home for the last 81 years.

Bill was a lifelong entrepreneur who never shied away from hard work, or from taking a risk. His early work-life began as a young boy selling newspapers and grew into roles such as milkman and brake tester in his youth. He embraced learning and quickly progressed to executive positions within Chrysler Canada, before eventually realizing his dream of owning his own dealership. After operating and owning Chrysler dealerships, Bill established Rose City Ford in 1981.

Throughout his life and career, Bill humbly gave back to his community, and to causes that were dear to him. In 1964 he became a founding member and lifetime supporter of Charity House (now Brentwood Recovery Home). He was also an Ontario Special Olympics hall of fame recipient and a founding member of the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. Bill was especially proud to have the William F. Chisholm branch of the Windsor Public Library named in his honour in 2017. This branch houses the city’s automotive archives and he was delighted to know that his legacy would live on through two of his largest interests: the automotive industry, and learning.

Aside from his wife, and his family, the game of golf was Bill’s third love in life. He enjoyed countless days at the golf course in Windsor as a member of Essex Golf and Country Club, and in Mesa, Arizona as a member of Red Mountain Ranch. He was always happy to golf on any day of the week that ended in a “Y”. His passion for golf served as a metaphor for many of the life lessons and principals that he drew upon: dress to impress, be a gentleman in sport and in business, wait your turn, and always remember that anything can happen - in life and in golf. Bill fostered numerous relationships on the golf course and was fortunate to translate those relationships into lasting friendships. He leaves behind many friends in Windsor and across Canada; and he spoke often of the fond memories made through those friendships.

When not golfing, Bill enjoyed watching football, tackling crossword puzzles, and finding shortcuts in everything. He was an early adopter of “best practices” and any form of technology that made things faster or easier.

When asked, Bill would say his greatest success was his family. He and Amelia raised six children, each with their own unique and dynamic personalities. He blessed his family with his love and affection for 91 years; and left behind lessons of resilience and integrity that will be remembered forever. In the words of J.D. Salinger: “You’re a real prince. You’re a gentleman and a scholar, kid.”

A visitation will take place at WINDSOR CHAPEL (South Chapel) 3048 Dougall Ave. 519-253-7236 on Monday, July 10, 2023 from 2 -5pm and 7 -9pm. Visitation will continue at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 10am until the time of the funeral mass at 11am. Interment to follow at Heavenly Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Hospice of Windsor Essex or Windsor Regional Cancer Centre. We would like to extend a thank you to all of Bill's caregivers who provided such wonderful assistance. Online condolences and cherished memories can be shared at www.windsorchapel.com