WILLIAM (“Bill”) REIDE THRASHER just a few weeks after his 75th birthday, beloved husband of Joanne Thrasher (Pickard) for 53 years, dedicated Father of Christina (Derek), Jeff (Stefanie) and Lisa (Craig), adored Grandfather of Aiden, Austin, Aleah, Owen and Logan, Grampa Bill to Ian and Trevor and Dogfather to Max, passed peacefully in his sleep, at home in Wilmot Creek, Newcastle, Ontario, on September 4th, 2026.
Predeceased by his mother, Patricia Stewart and father Peter, Bill is survived by many nieces and nephews and his five siblings Kim Mangnall (Brian), Lynne Verriet (Bert), Tom, Dianne McParland (Jim) and Greg Thrasher (Gaye) who was not just his brother, but his best friend.
Nothing meant more to Bill than his family and the friends he called family. Always quick with a joke, a cold beer, a shoulder to lean on, or a toolbox, Bill was the go-to guy for everything. A graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Technician program at Durham College, Bill started his career at Firestone and continued an almost 30 year career at what is now ThermoFisher Scientific in Whitby. After retirement at 55, Bill followed his passion and spent many years teaching the Maintenance Management Professional Programme at various Colleges in Ontario and Alberta.
While Parkinsons took the best of him in his last few years, Bill also spent decades volunteering in various capacities on the Executive, including a term as President, at Branch 178 of the Bowmanville Royal Canadian Legion. There he met so many friends and dedicated many hours supporting an organization he truly believed in.
Another passion of Bill’s was hockey. He never gave up on his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. His love of the game spilled over to coaching his son and later his grandson’s hockey teams. If he wasn’t behind the bench, he never missed an opportunity to be in the stands at all of his grandson’s games.
Bill also loved spending time at the family cottage on Lake Kagawong on the Manitoulin Island, especially when the kids and grandkids were there. In the tradition of his father-in-law “Pic” (Cecil Pickard), he always had a “project” on the go, and used it to patiently teach the kids how to fix and build things with whatever happened to be on hand. He will be missed by his Island family as well.
There are not enough thank yous for the friends and family that supported Bill throughout his life and especially these last few years. Too numerous to name, Bill was supported by the most generous and caring Team of PSWs, nurses, OTs, respite workers and doctors and forever steadfast at his side loving him through it all was Joanne, “His Girl”, the love of his life.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Details to follow.
William “Bill” Thrasher ~ July 23, 1951 – September 4, 2026
