William O. "Bill" Braaksma, 91, of rural Delphi, Indiana, passed away at 10:39 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2023, at the Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital of Lafayette, Indiana.  

He was born on Sunday, May 24, 1931, in Goodland, Indiana, to the late Charles"Charlie" and Lena (Marian) Braaksma.  

On November 30, 1951, in Remington, Indiana, he married Nancy Ridenour: she survives. 
 
Bill had lived in the Monticello, Delphi, Indiana, area most all of his life. 

Visitation will be from 12:00 (noon) to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the Miller - Roscka Funeral Home of Monticello, Indiana.

 

Celebration of Life Service will be here at the Miller - Roscka Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 14, 2023, with Rev. Wayne Berkesch.  

 

Burial will be at the Hughes Cemetery or rural Monticello, Indiana. 

 

Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or can be mailed to the Miller - Roscka Funeral Home, 6368 E. US 24, Monticello, Indiana, 47960.

 

Biographical Information:
   Bill had lived in the Monticello and Delphi, Indiana, area most all of his life. He quit school when he was 16, but went back to graduate in May of 1975, from Twin Lakes High School of Monticello, Indiana, graduating at the same time as his daughter Linda. Bill worked for the former Bassett Rotary Tool of Monticello, Indiana, for over twenty years.  He retired from there and took a position as a manager at a small tool company in Boise, Idaho.  Bill left there and they moved to Florida and he took a position as plant manager at another small company there.  When they moved back to Indiana, he worked at the car wash on 6th and Fisher Street in Monticello, Indiana, and worked there for twelve years.  Bill was called "a unique individual" by numerous people.  They would say hey meant that in a good way.  He didn't know a stranger.  Bill liked to fish and looked forward to catching enough fish for a good fish fry.  He was on a bowling league and enjoyed shooting pool.  When children were at home, there was camping with family and friends, sometimes in Bill and Nancy's back yard, which included fishing and horseshoe throwing.  After the children were grown Bill and Nancy enjoyed snowmobiling and going for motorcycle rides.  When in Idaho, they enjoyed exploring the surrounding area of Boise and riding their horses; in Florida, they still enjoyed their horses and liked going to the beach with friends.  The last several years, Bill and Nancy enjoyed ballroom dancing and the good friends they met.  For the past few years, you could almost always find Bill and Nancy at the American Legion on Friday Night sitting with their good friends and dancing to some of their favorite songs.  Bill and his daughter, Linda, usually tried to do at least one waltz together when the opportunity arose.   

 

Survivors include:

Wife,

Nancy Braaksma of Delphi, Indiana;

 

Two (2) Daughters,

Lena Dinges of Little Rock, Arkansas, and 

Linda (husband Darrell) Diggs of Monticello, Indiana,

 

Three (3) Grandchildren,

Josh (wife Nicole) Diggs of Monticello, Indiana,

Tanya (husband John Richard) Self of Atlanta, Texas, and

Robert "Robbie" (wife Lynne) Dinges of Arkansas;

 

Seven (7) Great Grandchildren,

 

Several Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces, Great Nephews, Cousins, and Friends.

 

Preceded in Death:

Parents, 

Charles "Charlie" and Lena Braaksma;

 

Four (4) Siblings;

 

Arrangements by:
Miller - Roscka Funeral Home, 6368 E. US 24, Monticello, Indiana, 47960 (574) 583-8488.