Long time St. Paul Rotarian, William A. (Bill) Mears, died on November 14, after a two and one-half year illness in Phoenix, AZ, surrounded by his family.

Known to all as a “gentlemen’s gentleman”, Rotary was in Bill’s blood line;  his grandfather, Norman T. Mears, was among the founding members of Club #10;  his father, William E. Mears, was the St. Paul Rotary Club president in 1962-63 and brother-in-law, Jack Overbye, was a long time active St. Paul Rotarian as well.  Bill’s two sisters are also Rotarians.  Marilyn Hobbs is a member of the Central Lakes/Pequot Lake Rotary Club and Ginger Overbye is a member of the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Club.

Bill is survived by his wife, Harriet Mears, two sons, three daughters, six grandchildren and sisters, Marilyn and Ginger.  He had many wonderful friends, was well known for his generosity and appreciated for his great work.

Bill joined Rotary in 1961. Attending Rotary meetings was always a priority.  He was involved in many aspects of Club life and took great pleasure during the Christmas holidays as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer.  A regular attendee at the Club’s Holiday Party, always wearing a tux, he was the envy of all displaying his prowess on the dance floor, as he and his wife, Harriet, would with grace, style, skill and enthusiasm cover all corners of the dance floor.  A St. Paul business man, Bill was the president and owner of a family owned business, Lan-O-Sheen, Inc., where he had worked for many years.

Bill’s favorite place to be was at his cabin on Whitefish Lake where he spent many days with family and friends enjoying his life-long love of boats, family stories and peacefulness in the “cabin life”.  He had many friends, was well known for his generosity and was appreciated for his great wit and humor.  Everyone loved Bill.  A fifty year member of Rotary, he felt honored to be a member of the St. Paul club cherishing his friendships and involvement.  He was a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow and, when in Arizona, enjoyed his affiliation with the Goodyear, Arizona Rotary Club.  Additionally he was a financial supporter and active with the Boys and Girls Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony.

We request this Memorial Resolution to be spread upon the minutes of the Saint Paul Rotary Club and a copy be sent to family members.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Brusseau, PP
Charles Field, PP
Jerry Meigs, PRID
Richard Stockwell, PP 
Gil Thoele, PP