William ‘Bill’ Hummel
March 10, 1942 – April 3, 2025

William “Bill” Hummel, beloved husband, brother, veteran, business owner, and dedicated community member, passed away unexpectedly on April 3rd 2025 at the age of 83, at his home. Born in Schaller Iowa on March 10th 1942, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1962 in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his recruit training in San Diego, California, and went on to serve aboard the USS Ernest G. Small, USS Lenawee, and USS Eldorado. His naval career took him throughout the Western Pacific and included deployments to Vietnam during times of active conflict. He proudly served as a Second-Class Electrician’s Mate until his honorable discharge in 1966.

His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon, and Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star. Following his military service, Bill began a civilian career with the Western Union Telegraph Company, later supporting government contracts in locations such as Kwajalein, the Philippines, and Honolulu.

In 1976, he returned stateside to enter a business partnership with brother Hal Hummel, founding Hummel Tire & Wheel. Six years later In 1983, Bill married “a wonderful woman from Nebraska , on and April 8th of this year Cee Cee and Bill will have been married 42 wonderful years .The shop remains a proud family-run business by his nieces Wendy Hummel and Lisa Hummel.

Bill was deeply committed to serving his fellow veterans. A loyal member of VFW Post 2207 since 1995, he held several leadership roles, including Post Commander (2012–2013) and Quartermaster (2014–2022). In 2023, he was honored with the Distinguished Citizen Medal by the Daughters of the American Revolution, recognizing his extraordinary dedication to veterans and the local community.

Bill was known for his quiet but constant service — placing flags on veterans’ graves, setting up community dinners, distributing poppies, and raising the American flag with reverence. He was the hardest-working veteran they had ever known. He was also a member of the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department for 5 Years. The many acts of service that Bill performed for individuals and the Community as a whole, cannot be numbered.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Cee Cee Hummel, son John and his wife Debbie, daughter Sherry, and five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and his brother Lloyd Hummel his sister Mary Ann Bishop and two nieces Wendy and Lisa Hummel.

Bill’s life was marked by a quiet and unselfish dedication—to his country, his family, his community, and his values. He will be dearly missed and forever remembered. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on April 26, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Fortuna Veterans Memorial Building, located at 1426 Main Street in Fortuna.