William 'Bill' Wiltsie

William Arthur "Bill" Wiltsie Age 86, June 28, 2011 of Livonia. Owner of Wiltsie and Co. Dear husband of Ann Marie (Gagnon). Beloved father of William Jr. (Karen), Kathryn, Mary Ellen Skene, Thomas, Barbara, Rosemary (Larry) Milliken, Charles, David (Deena), Joseph (Denise), Paul and Patricia. Grandfather of eighteen and great grandfather of three. Mr. Wiltsie grew up in the cities of Sugargrove, PA and Detroit. A graduate of Northwestern High School, he answered the call of his country and served in the 298th Army Combat Engineers during World War II. He fought in five major battles beginning with the landing at Normandy on D-Day through the Battle of the Bulge. He married his wife Ann Marie in 1948 and in 1952 moved to Livonia where he resided until his death. In the early years Mr. Wiltsie worked at Swift Foods and Hygrade Food Products, where he was credited with developing the original "Ball Park Frank" eight- pack hot dog, which is still the industry standard. In the early sixties he became partners with Charles Reeves & Co, and in 1963 formed his own food brokerage, Wiltsie & Co. Mr. Wiltsie was well known as an honest and principled man who regularly contributed gifts of money and service to charitable organizations and individuals in need, always avoiding recognition. In 2006 he was honored by the National Confectioners Sales Association and was entered into the Candy Hall of Fame. Known across the country as the "Candy Man," Mr. Wiltsie leaves a legacy of the value of hard work, loyalty, and what it means to be family. Visitation Friday 5-9 pm with a Rosary at 7 pm at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd., Livonia. Funeral Mass Saturday 10 am (instate at 9:30 am) at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 133 Orchard Dr., Northville 48167. Those wishing to make a donation in Bill's name are asked to consider St. Leo's Soup Kitchen of Detroit, 4860 15th St., Detroit, MI 48208 Please share a memory of Bill with his family by signing the guestbook. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154