William Henry Wong Obituary
William Henry Wong, known affectionately to all as "Willie," passed away on October 4, 2026, after an extended illness. He spent his final hours surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born one of seven children on January 4, 1963, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Henry Wong and Kim Nakashima, Willie embraced life with a spirit of never-ending kindness and was lovingly considered a "gentle giant" by all who knew him.
Willie spent his early years in Milwaukee before his family moved to Oshkosh, where he graduated from Oshkosh North High School in 1982. Throughout his life, he worked in the kitchens and behind the counters of various food establishments. In every role, he treated customers, friends, and family with the same unwavering warmth and respect.
He was loud and proud in his love for sports. Despite his Wisconsin roots, Willie was a devoted, lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Celtics. Beyond cheering on his favorite teams, he found great joy in playing cards with loved ones, participating in trivia nights, and joining sports pools. In his younger years, Willie was an avid athlete himself, often found playing softball, baseball, football, basketball, and bowling.
Willie had a profoundly kind heart. If someone needed help, he was always the first to step up and assist in any way he could. This selflessness was never more apparent than when he paused his education for a year to help care for his father during his battle with cancer.
Willie is predeceased by his father, Henry; his mother, Kim (Nakashima); and his beloved nephew, Bradley Trudeau. He is survived by his six siblings: David (Mary Jo), Nancy (Steven) Stearns, Robert (Tess), Joseph (Susan), Linda (Jere) Trudeau, and Richard (Tiffany). He also leaves behind numerous cherished nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
A visitation will be held at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m., with a Celebration of Life to follow at 3:00 p.m. To honor Willie's passion for sports, attendees are warmly encouraged to wear their favorite sports apparel, such as a team jersey or hat. Following the service, the celebration of Willie's life will continue at Brewski's Sports Club & BBQ, 304 N. 76th St., Milwaukee. In lieu of flowers, it was Willie's wish that you donate to a charity of your choice. Alternatively, you can honor his memory by heading to a favorite sports bar to buy a friend a drink or an order of wings, or by playing a game of cribbage (for money, of course).
Visitation Saturday, October 17, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Schmidt & Bartelt Wauwatosa 10121 W North Ave. Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Phone: (414) 774-5010.
