George "Bill" Schilder

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George William “Bill” Schilder, 92, of Faulkton, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Faulkton Senior Living.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the United Church of Faulkton, with Rev. Bill Hoffman presiding. Burial followed in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2018 at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton.

Bill Schilder was born on June 21, 1925, to George and Bernice (Myers) Schilder on the family ranch near Burkmere. He was a farmer and rancher at heart, with a love of the land and all things connected to it. He became a pilot at the young age of 15 and had many stories to share about his adventures in a plane. He later owned an aerial crop spraying business with his brother, Bob. He and Bob also raised registered Angus cattle, selling seed stock bulls.

He married Joyce Kern on Valentine’s Day in 1948. They started their own ranch just east of the home place where they lived for 49 ½ years before moving into town in 1997.

Bill’s love of the land led him to his involvement with habitat and wildlife through which he earned recognition from various groups in the state. He received the South Dakota Izaac Walton League Award and was named the Citizen of the Year by the South Dakota Wildlife Society for his work with restoration of Giant Canadian geese. His operation was the most successful private cooperative effort with the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks beginning with 10 pair in 1963 when they were in danger of extinction. At the successful completion of the project he had raised and released nearly 3000 geese. He also was active in pheasant restoration, maintaining a flock of hens and hatching replacement chicks to release into the wild every year.

Bill was a self-taught taxidermist and his love for nature improved the quality and realistic look of his mounts. His works have been sent all over the United States and Canada. He was very involved in Faulk County 4-H, serving as a 4-H leader for 20+ years and being inducted into the South Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also a Dixon mower dealer and provided sales and service to his Dixon customers for over 20 years.

Of all of Bill's accomplishments, he was most proud of his family-his daughters as educators and his sons actively farming in the community with their sons. A very special moment was when the family received the SDSU Alumni Family of the Year award for 2015. The celebration and following Hobo Day reunion were highlights the entire family will treasure forever.

He is survived by his five children – William, Jr. (Barb), Julie (Mike) Serlet, Bruce (Ginger), Joline (Mark) Dunbar, and Brent (Carol); 16 grandchildren – Nikki (Ryan) Melius, Justin (Stevie) Schilder, Heather (Beau) Wisness, Audra Serlet, Derek (Andrea) Serlet, Kyle Serlet, Brady (April) Schilder, Tanner (Rachael) Schilder, Bailey (Grant) Raml, Megan (Matt) Jaquet, Michael (Kassie) Dunbar, Matthew (Chelsea) Dunbar, Stephanie Schilder, Joe (Christy) Schilder, Katie (Travis) Hansen, and Shannon (John) Dickey; and 25 great-grandchildren – Morgan, Peyton, Addison and Spencer Melius, Amelia, Clara, Charlie and Hazel Wisness, Jacob, Emma, and Ethan Schilder, Levi and Cullen Schilder, Cord Schilder, Ivy Raml, Matilynn, William, and Brecken Jaquet, Maci and Brielle Dunbar, Carson Brockhaus, Taylin and Anistyn Gronke, Clayton Schilder, and Finley Hansen.

William was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; siblings: Donna, Dorothy, and Robert; half siblings: Pete, Jim, Irene, and Harry; and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Faulkton Area Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 458, Faulkton, SD 57438, and Faulkton Senior Living, 1401 Pearl St., Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Bill’s arrangements.