William (Bill) Bittner, 89, passed away March 15, 2025, at his home in Laramie, Wyoming surrounded by his family.
Bill was born in Painesville, Ohio but grew up in Madison, Ohio on the banks of Lake Erie and attended Elementary and High School in Madison. He was very involved in school activities, clubs, and sports (mostly football, basketball, and track). He took great pride in being a four-year letter winner in football. He also participated in Boy Scouts and reached the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15. Living next to Lake Erie, he was very fond of the water and spent his spare time (winter and summer) by the Lake when he was not busy caddying at the local golf course. During his senior year of High School, he was appointed to Ohio Boys State.
Later, he attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Economics. While in college, Bill participated in football his freshman year before injuries took their toll. After graduation, he worked for the Diamond Alkali Company in Painesville. In 1957, he married (then later divorced) Barbara DeGroff whom he had met and dated in college. Together they had four children, Eric, Steven, Katherine, and Mark.
In 1958, the family relocated from Ohio to upstate New York, where Bill began his career in the insurance industry. His professional journey took him from Milwaukee to Denver, then to Casper, before settling in Laramie in 1970. It was there that Bill purchased the Bunn Agency and founded Bittner Insurance. In 1976, he was elected president of the Wyoming Association of Insurance Agents and served on the board of directors for many years. Over the course of his career, which spanned more than 60 years, Bill built a legacy in the insurance business.
In 1991, Bill married Sandra Warren, and they continued to run Bittner Insurance until it was sold in 1998. Together they continued to work in the insurance industry until Bill’s retirement in 2019. Outside of work, they shared a love for skiing, golfing, and taking cruises. Some of Bill’s fondest memories were the road trips he and Sandra took across the United States and into Canada to play golf. Bill also enjoyed traveling over the years to various states to support his children and grandchildren at their sporting events.
In addition to their travels, Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also treasured his weekly coffee gatherings with friends, where they shared stories and laughter. These simple pleasures brought him great joy and were an important part of his life.
As a devoted fan of the University of Wyoming, Bill was a member of the Cowboy Joe Club for several years and enjoyed attending both basketball and football games. He was also deeply involved in the Laramie community, contributing his time and efforts to organizations such as First Christian Church, Kiwanis, and serving as the first president of Albany County Crime Stoppers.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Val and Dora and an infant son Steven Val. He is survived by his loving wife Sandra, his sister Donna (Richard) Keyse of Ohio, his children Eric (Helen) Bittner of Lakewood, Colorado, Katherine (Tim) Rode of Larkspur, Colorado, Mark (Marce) Bittner of Laramie, step-daughters Toni (Shea) Abbott of Laramie and Traci (Randy) Rinker of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, his grandchildren, Ben Rode, Megan Treese, Mitch Sexton, Weston Abbott, Myles Bittner, Hannah Rode, Bailey Abbott, Adrianna Rinker, Madilyn Rinker and his great-granddaughters, Nora, Mazie and Taegen.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 2:00 pm at First Christian Church in Laramie. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice House of Laramie.
May he rest in peace knowing he was loved by many.
