William “Bill” Joseph Longtine, a longtime resident of Evansville, Indiana and recent resident of
Owensboro, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, at the age of 90—just four
days shy of celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife and “Sweetheart,”
Mary Margaret (Stone) Longtine.
Born on April 1, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bill was the son of William E. and Elizabeth
C. (Braun) Longtine. He grew up in Evansville, graduating from Reitz Memorial High School,
and earned a degree in business administration from Marquette University. He honorably served
in the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Lewis, Washington, following the Bay of Pigs Invasion and
construction of the Berlin Wall, before returning to Wisconsin.
Bill enjoyed a successful 32-year career with J.C. Penney, retiring as Assistant Controller at the
company’s headquarters in Dallas. Before moving with J.C. Penney to Texas, his career involved
relocations of his family between Wisconsin and New Jersey. Wherever he lived, Bill remained a
loyal fan of the Green Bay Packers.
A lifelong learner and avid reader, Bill had an insatiable curiosity and a deep appreciation for
knowledge. He loved discussing current events and ideas with family and friends, and he
encouraged those around him to think critically and pursue learning in all its forms.
Bill was equally passionate about travel. He and Mary explored the world together—visiting
many places in the U.S. and abroad—but their favorite journeys were those that brought them
closer to family. They made regular trips to visit family, spent winters in Florida with friends and
visiting family, and organized unforgettable family reunions in places like Estes Park, Colorado.
Bill loved planning trips down to the last detail, always making sure they were memorable for
the people he cared about most.
Above all, Bill was a family man—selfless, generous, and deeply committed. He and Mary
raised six children, instilling in them the values of hard work, education, and the Golden Rule.
He took pride in seeing all his children earn college degrees and delighted in encouraging his
grandchildren to pursue higher education.
Bill is survived by Mary and their children, Chuck Longtine (Beth) of Westminster, CO; Mark
Longtine of Bellingham, WA; Greg Longtine (Irene) of Calhoun, KY; John Longtine (Maria) of
Mt. Arlington, NJ; and Margaret George (Rich) of Long Valley, NJ. He was preceded in death by
their son, Stephen Longtine.
He was a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren, Joel (Kristyn), Marybeth (Ben), Anne Marie
(Fernando), Stephanie (Christian), Abigail, Michael, Daniel, Morgan (Brian), Tyler, Brandon,
Carly, Lexi, Trey, Elise, and Stephen; and 7 great-grandchildren, Levi, Eliot, Bianca, Wesley,
Deno, Leander, and Milo.
Bill is also survived by his siblings, Paul Longtine (Jouella, deceased), Robert Longtine (Judy),
and Anne Longtine (Marco Spallone). He was preceded in death by his sister, Sister Mary
Elizabeth Longtine, OSB.
Bill will be remembered for his wisdom, humility, and unwavering devotion to family and faith.
In his final years, he often reflected with gratitude on the blessings of his life and gave thanks to
God for the family, friendships, and experiences that filled his days.
Friends and family are welcome to join in a celebration of Bill’s life on Saturday, October 25,
2025. Visitation (11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and the memorial service (1:30 p.m.) will take place at
Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN. For those unable to
attend, a live webcast and recorded video of the service may be accessed on Bill’s tribute page at
www.ziemerfuneralhome.com.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Sisters of St.
Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, 802 E. 10 th St., Ferdinand, IN 47532.