William “Bill” Wade
On January 4, 1943, I was born in Ogden, Utah to Bill and Irene Wade in the old Thomas Dee Memorial Hospital. I attended Lorin Farr and Taylor Elementary schools, Central Junior High and graduated from Ogden High in 1961. In my junior year at OHS, I met and fell in love with the love of my life Joan Waggoner. We became engaged shortly after graduation and I then attended Utah State University. Joan and I broke up in my sophomore year of college and we each went our separate ways, marrying other people, having families, careers and living totally separate lives until 2004 when we met by chance and rekindled the love that had never entirely left either of us. Finally, after 45 years we were able to find happiness, we had both so desperately needed and were married on June 11, 2005. Since that day we traveled the world enjoying each other’s companionship and love in an attempt to make up for lost time.
I am a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Indian Nation, and a life-long member of The United Methodist Church. My Native American name is “Zhosh Kwajewen”, which translates to Smooth River in English.
I leave behind my beautiful, loving, intelligent, considerate, caring, attentive, and affectionate wife Joan (she disputes this), my loving and supportive sister Pam Papazian (Paul), 3 incredible children; William Dean Jr., Christine Brack (Jeremy), and Sean (Nathalia); and 2 incredible granddaughters; 3 wonderful and considerate step-children Kelly Price (Danny), Brett Baird (LondaLee), and Alisa Rivera and 7 fantastic step-grandchildren and 5 step great-grandchildren. I was preceded in death by my parents, my loving and supportive sister Norma Davis, my beautiful and kind stepdaughter Chera Baird, and good friend and dependable son-in-law Rhett Rivera.
It has been my life-long belief that education is the ticket out of poverty and hunger. So in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the college, university, vocational scholarship endowment fund of your choice, or the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Scholarship Fund
ATTN: Department of Education
1601 S Gordon Cooper Dr
Shawnee, OK 74801
It has been my firm belief that advanced education or schooling is the most valuable insurance policy anyone can have. Unlike monetary items, an education can never be taken away from anyone.
On June 28, 2025 I passed away surrounded by family, love, and laughter.
A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, July 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Leavitt’s Mortuary & Aultorest Memorial Park, located at 836 36th Street. Funeral services will follow on Wednesday, July 2, at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place at Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch. Following the interment, a luncheon will be held at Leavitt’s Mortuary & Aultorest Memorial Park.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.leavittsmortuary.com