Wilfred “Bill” Moehle
Bill Moehle passed from this life to eternal life on March 15, 2021, three and a half weeks shy of his 95th birthday. Bill was born on April 8, 1926 in Lombard, Illinois, to Henry and Roslyn Moehle. Along with his older brother, Hank, and his twin sister, Winnie, he learned from his parents a true sense of home, family, and community; a love of the outdoors, including fishing and hiking; and a passion for travel. When the family moved to Chicago, he joined a Sea Scout troop that rowed a cutter on Lake Michigan, kindling a love of the water, volunteering, and contributing.
In 1942, Bill joined the Navy and was sent to study at Northwestern, then to UCLA, becoming a meteorologist at the age of 19, followed by active duty in the Pacific. At the close of the war, he returned to Chicago where he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Marema, and began a family. He was recalled to the Navy in 1952 and spent two years flying into hurricanes with the Navy Hurricane Squadron out of Jacksonville, FL. Upon leaving the Navy again, he brought his family to Rockledge to become part of the growing space program, working for Pan American World Airways Aerospace Division at Patrick AFB. With Pan Am he was given the challenge of setting up, staffing, and activating the weather stations on all of the Down Range Bases for the space program. With that job successfully completed, he moved up to become head of Personnel Management after receiving his MBA from Florida State University. Rockledge and the growing space coast area became home, where he could enjoy all the things he loved, while nurturing both family and friends and sharing his interests and life lessons with his son and daughter. He also took full advantage of the flying perks that accompanied working for an airline, as he and Dottie enjoyed many trips all over the world.
Bill’s love of the water centered on boating and fishing, and sailing became another passion. For many years, he enjoyed sailing the Indian River with friends every Sunday afternoon; and sailing trips with friends to England, through the Panama Canal, in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Bahamas, Grenadines, and Windward and Leeward Islands, and many points in between fed his yearning for adventure.
Volunteering and contributing were always a big part of Bill’s life and activities. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Brevard County Museum of Natural History, the Achievement Center, and Wuesthoff Hospital; he volunteered for many years with The Canaveral National Seashore Programs, Habitat for Humanity, the Indian River Marine Resources Council, and the Museum; and he was a member of Rockledge Presbyterian Church where he served on numerous boards and committees and was church treasurer for many years.
Bill was preceded in death by his brother Hank, twin sister Winifred Mendenhall, son Dale, grandson Matthew Moehle, and son-in-law Richard McCallum. He is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years Dottie, daughter Debra McCallum, grandchildren Beth McCallum Byrnside (Michael) and Will McCallum (Caitlin), daughter-in-law Janet Moehle Sheldon (Brooks), granddaughter-in-law Marguerite Moehle, great grandchildren Madison and Miles Moehle and Mailey Kate Byrnside. His active, inquiring mind, love of life, and generous spirit will also be missed by his nieces and nephews and many friends.