Glenn William Gansen

On January 26, 1939, Bill was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Glenn and Mary (Juratovac) Gansen. In 1958, Bill married Joyce Manery. The two would go on to spend over 65 years together. Bill is survived by his beloved wife; sons, Tom and Steve (Sheri) Gansen; grandchildren, Charlie, David (Natalie), Kevin (Kait), Stephen (Keisha), and Matthew (Ashley); and nine great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Judy and Marilyn.

Bill owned and operated Bill’s Sound Center in Portage for 40+ years. He was respected by his customers as an honest businessman who could repair just about anything audio related. His shop was filled from top to bottom with stereo equipment, radios, and hard-to-find parts. If you needed a needle for a vintage turntable, Bill was the man to see.

His love for audio equipment was not only his job, but his passion. He collected vintage radios and stereo equipment and could be seen on any given weekend at the local flea markets.

Another passion of Bill’s was model train collecting. He designed and built a Christmas train village for his grandchildren to admire, not just during the holidays, but all year long. Even his great-grandchildren enjoyed sounding the engine’s whistle.

Bill had a deep appreciation for the military and wore his patriotism proudly. As an Air Force veteran himself, he knew the sacrifices that were made in serving his country. He was especially drawn to historical military wars. He gained extensive knowledge about WWII.

He was an eclectic man with many hobbies and interests. He was a dedicated father, husband, and grandfather. He will forever be missed by his family.

He will be honored in a private ceremony at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. In Bill’s honor, donations can be made to Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Portage, MI.