William Douglas Allemeier

William Douglas (Bill) Allemeier, 73, of Simmons River Road, Bramwell, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Born and baptized at Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI, on April 15, 1942 to Ralph and Mary Allemeier of Delphos, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Lassak-Allemeier, son Gregory Allemeier, daughter Sabrina Allemeier Karalus, step sons Jamie and Michael Kane, mother Mary Allemeier, and siblings, Kathleen Kovscek, Kathryn Cottle, Daniel Allemeier, Sr., Eileen Powell, Therese Allemeier, and David Allemeier. Bill is predeceased by his father, Ralph Allemeier, son, Jeffrey Allemeier, and the mother of Bill’s children, Janet Graham Allemeier. Bill’s father, Ralph Allemeier, was in the US Army, and deployed as a Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps, to England and Europe during WWII. Young Bill and his mother, Mary, remained in Delphos, Ohio until 1945, when Ralph returned from Europe. Bill attended St. John’s Catholic Elementary School, in Delphos, Ohio, until 1950, when Captain Allemeier and the family were stationed in Germany, in the Nuremburg area. Upon their return to the United States in 1953, the family settled in Petersburg, Virginia. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School and High School until 1958, when the family moved to San Leandro, California. Bill graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School of Oakland California in 1960. While at Bishop O’Dowd, he participated in the school’s theater group. After graduation, Bill accompanied the family back to Germany, where his father was stationed in Goeppingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. Bill attended the University of Maryland, at its Munchen, Germany campus. While in Germany, he won an acting contest, which awarded him a trip to Hollywood, California, and screen appearances in the TV shows, Route 66 and Maverick. Bill returned to Germany briefly, but then traveled back to Delphos, Ohio. He worked at the Fruehauf Trailer Corporation as a welder. He met and married Janet Graham in Delphos, Ohio in 1963. When his father, Ralph, retired from the Army in 1963 and settled in Bothell, Washington, Bill relocated to Bothell with his new family. He worked initially for the Pan Am Corporation due to his knowledge of French, then was hired by the Boeing Company, where he worked on several of their aircraft, including the 747. He had a long career at Boeing as lead wire installer, retiring in 2001. Bill married Elizabeth in 1998 and lived in Everett, WA. Bill and Elizabeth owned the Snohomish Flower Company, which they both enjoyed working at together until they sold it and moved to West Virginia in 2005. They had fallen in love with Bramwell after visiting there while staying at Elizabeth's family farm in McDowell County in 2002. Bill worked at The Corner Shop Cafe in Bramwell with his wife Elizabeth. Bill loved to play cards, especially pinochle and euchre, games he learned from his days in Delphos, Ohio. Bill was also a collector. He collected stamps from a very young age and had amassed a museum quality collection. As a avid reader, he had a great knowledge of current events and could hold his own on most newsworthy topics of the day. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with Father Elpidio Geneta officiating. Burial will follow at a later date at the family farm in McDowell County. Friends may call on Thursday from 6-8 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, 3431 Coal Heritage Road (Bluewell), Bluefield, WV 24701 is serving the family.