Obituary of Bill Erin

Bill Erin, 93, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Monday, February 11, 2013, in Colorado Springs. Bill was born Theodore William Grupp on March 18, 1919, in La Crosse, Wisconsin to William Joseph and Regina (Degendesh) Grupp. He changed his name to Bill Erin while attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He married Myra Barber of Tomah, Wisconsin, in La Crosse on September 5, 1940. Bill was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in the Merchant Marines. He worked as a radio announcer and sportscaster in Fort Wayne, IN, Springfield, OH, Oakland, CA and La Crosse, WI. He was a published author with two books and numerous short stories to his credit. As a pioneer of television broadcasting, he hosted a local morning show in Rochester, Minnesota. Bill moved to Chicago in 1955 to become a copywriter for television advertising and a director of industrial training films, a career that continued until his retirement in 1983. He served a term as Chairman of the West Chicago High School Board of Education. Bill retired to Boulder City, Nevada, where he wrote a column for the Boulder City News. He took a leading role in American Legion and Merchant Marine Veterans' affairs. Bill moved to Palisades Senior Living in Colorado Springs in 2009.Survivors include his wife, Myra; five children, Dan (Sharon Katz) of Cumming, GA, Tim (Margaret Vardy) of Dayton, OH, Rod (Marcia Roach) of Colorado Springs, Steven of Gilroy, CA, and Michael (Connie Kramer) of Gardner, KS; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.Bill was preceded in death by a son, Pat.A Memorial Service with Coast Guard Honors will be held at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada on May 6, 2013, beginning at 10:00 a.m.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855