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December 22, 2019
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, December 27, 2019 from 3-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 11:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
William B. Lehault, age 72, of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2019 while in the loving presence of his family.
Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois. After growing up there during early childhood, his family moved east to Long Island, NY and then, in 1959, to Wayne, NJ. Bill attended Wayne High School – known today as Wayne Valley High School, where he excelled in wrestling and soccer, and graduated with the class of 1965.
In the fall of 1965, Bill headed west again, this time to attend college at Kansas State University. While back home in New Jersey during the summer after his freshman year of college, Bill met a young lady with a sweet smile and an even sweeter personality one night while attending a dance at the former Pleasureland in neighboring Oakland. Her name was Eileen Compesi and, after a fun time dancing and getting to know one another, Bill asked Eileen if he could give her a ride home. Eileen called her mom and, after securing permission, she and her friend Lynn hopped in Bill’s Buick LeSabre for that ride home. While dating long-distance over the next few years, Eileen wrote Bill a letter each and every day, and Bill called her every night on the pink princess phone in her bedroom. After they both graduated from college and began careers, they married on Sunday, November 14, 1971 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. After a reception at The Cameo (known today as The Venetian) in Garfield, they honeymooned in the Bahamas.
The first year of married life was spent together in an apartment in Wallington. After that, Bill and Eileen moved into their first home in West Milford where they welcomed their first two sons, Michael and Christopher. Six years later, in 1979, they moved to Wayne. Soon after they welcomed their third son, William.
After graduating from Kansas State University in 1970 with a dual B.S. degree in Bakery Science and Technology and Business Administration, Bill set off on a long and storied career in commercial baking. He started off as a Plant Manager and Director of Operations for several large wholesale bakeries including Thomas’ English Muffins, Arnold Bread, Ellio’s Pizza, and J.J. Cassone Bakery.
He then transitioned into entrepreneurial enterprises and ownership of a wholesale bagel operation called Jerry’s Bagels in Passaic and, later, Oki’s Muffins n’ Stuff in Fort Lee, Bogota, and Clifton. From there, he became involved in Global Client Development for Lockwood Greene and CH2M Hill. His final transition, in which he was still presently involved, was into private, independent consulting for large-scale bakery management.
Even when participating in activities meant just for fun, Bill often displayed a penchant for the competitive. He enjoyed traveling to Atlantic City or Las Vegas to play poker and challenging his sons to games of cribbage, cornhole, or disc golf. An avid, lifetime weight lifter, Bill could bench press 315 pounds, well into his fifties, and every year on his birthday, he would proudly announce that he could still do it. He loved watching most sports, especially football and baseball, and a good afternoon or evening for Bill would often consist of catching a game on the radio or television beside his loving wife.
Back in his days at Kansas State University, Bill traveled cross-country on his motorcycle. Over the years, he worked his way up from the Suzuki 500 that he had in college to a more powerful Harley Sportster. His love for riding was rekindled when his son Michael got a bike too, and they would often take rides together.
Bill enjoyed all kinds of music, especially performed live. Billy Joel, The Doors and Jim Croce were amongst his early favorites. His musical tastes evolved over time to include interest in jazz and the blues and, most recently, boogie woogie stomp. Since the time he met his beloved wife Eileen at that dance at Pleasureland, Bill’s love of dancing never waned. He and Eileen’s wedding song was a 1962 hit called “Till” by a band that originated from New Jersey called the Angels. In fact, it became a tradition for Bill to request that song from the band leader or DJ at every wedding they attended, so they could enjoy a nice romantic slow dance together. One of his personal favorite songs was the 1959 “Theme from a Summer Place” by Percy Faith. Even in his final hours in the hospital the words of this beautiful song, some of which go like this, played in the background:
“There's a summer place where it may rain or storm, yet I'm safe and warm. For within that summer place, your arms reach out to me and my heart is free from all care. For it knows there are no gloomy skies when seen through the eyes of those who are blessed with love...”
Bill and Eileen shared a common attraction to anyplace with warm sun and sand, and clear blue water. In 1977, they purchased a bungalow down the Jersey Shore in Chadwick Beach, just steps from that beautiful warm sand. Close enough to home, Chadwick Beach was a place where Bill loved to go for long walks along the shore. That little bungalow served Bill and Eileen well and was the place where their boys grew up spending their summers. In more recent years, as Bill and Eileen’s boys graduated college, married and had children of their own, the little bungalow that had served them well for so many years was rebuilt to accommodate their growing family. It has since became tradition for the whole family to gather every Fourth of July week for fun times together barbequing, spending time at the beach during the day, and seeing the fireworks at night.
Bill’s love and devotion was first and foremost to his family. Throughout his life, he did his best to be a great provider and to invest in each one of their lives in a meaningful way. He was also devoted to service in his community. When his sons were young and were beginning to get involved in sports at the Wayne Boys and Girls Club, Bill joined them by volunteering as their soccer coach. He coached there for many years and, even when his own boys went off to college, Bill continued to serve on the Board of Directors and helped expand the club to other towns to become the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey.
Bill was the beloved husband of Eileen, blest in marriage for 48 years. He was the loving father of: Michael and wife Allison Lehault of San Pedro, CA, Christopher and wife Lindsay Lehault of Cranford, NJ, and William B., III and wife Kathleen Lehault of Warwick, NY; cherished grandfather of: Alexandra, Sebastian, Donovan, Miles, William B., IV, and Sidney; dear brother of the late Karen Dranginis; dear brother-in-law of: Gary and wife JoAnn Compesi of Wayne, and Alan Compesi of Wayne; dear uncle of: Michael Lindewurth, the late Bryan Lindewurth, Jenna and husband James Furfaro, and Philip Compesi; and great-uncle of: Franco Furfaro and Anthony Furfaro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Bill’s life may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest, New Jersey, 153 Garside Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470. To donate online Click Here.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, December 27, 2019 from 3-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 11:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
December 22, 2019
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, December 27, 2019 from 3-7 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 11:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
William B. Lehault, age 72, of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2019 while in the loving presence of his family.
Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois. After growing up there during early childhood, his family moved east to Long Island, NY and then, in 1959, to Wayne, NJ. Bill attended Wayne High School – known today as Wayne Valley High School, where he excelled in wrestling and soccer, and graduated with the class of 1965.
In the fall of 1965, Bill headed west again, this time to attend college at Kansas State University. While back home in New Jersey during the summer after his freshman year of college, Bill met a young lady with a sweet smile and an even sweeter personality one night while attending a dance at the former Pleasureland in neighboring Oakland. Her name was Eileen Compesi and, after a fun time dancing and getting to know one another, Bill asked Eileen if he could give her a ride home. Eileen called her mom and, after securing permission, she and her friend Lynn hopped in Bill’s Buick LeSabre for that ride home. While dating long-distance over the next few years, Eileen wrote Bill a letter each and every day, and Bill called her every night on the pink princess phone in her bedroom. After they both graduated from college and began careers, they married on Sunday, November 14, 1971 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. After a reception at The Cameo (known today as The Venetian) in Garfield, they honeymooned in the Bahamas.
The first year of married life was spent together in an apartment in Wallington. After that, Bill and Eileen moved into their first home in West Milford where they welcomed their first two sons, Michael and Christopher. Six years later, in 1979, they moved to Wayne. Soon after they welcomed their third son, William.
After graduating from Kansas State University in 1970 with a dual B.S. degree in Bakery Science and Technology and Business Administration, Bill set off on a long and storied career in commercial baking. He started off as a Plant Manager and Director of Operations for several large wholesale bakeries including Thomas’ English Muffins, Arnold Bread, Ellio’s Pizza, and J.J. Cassone Bakery.
He then transitioned into entrepreneurial enterprises and ownership of a wholesale bagel operation called Jerry’s Bagels in Passaic and, later, Oki’s Muffins n’ Stuff in Fort Lee, Bogota, and Clifton. From there, he became involved in Global Client Development for Lockwood Greene and CH2M Hill. His final transition, in which he was still presently involved, was into private, independent consulting for large-scale bakery management.
Even when participating in activities meant just for fun, Bill often displayed a penchant for the competitive. He enjoyed traveling to Atlantic City or Las Vegas to play poker and challenging his sons to games of cribbage, cornhole, or disc golf. An avid, lifetime weight lifter, Bill could bench press 315 pounds, well into his fifties, and every year on his birthday, he would proudly announce that he could still do it. He loved watching most sports, especially football and baseball, and a good afternoon or evening for Bill would often consist of catching a game on the radio or television beside his loving wife.
Back in his days at Kansas State University, Bill traveled cross-country on his motorcycle. Over the years, he worked his way up from the Suzuki 500 that he had in college to a more powerful Harley Sportster. His love for riding was rekindled when his son Michael got a bike too, and they would often take rides together.
Bill enjoyed all kinds of music, especially performed live. Billy Joel, The Doors and Jim Croce were amongst his early favorites. His musical tastes evolved over time to include interest in jazz and the blues and, most recently, boogie woogie stomp. Since the time he met his beloved wife Eileen at that dance at Pleasureland, Bill’s love of dancing never waned. He and Eileen’s wedding song was a 1962 hit called “Till” by a band that originated from New Jersey called the Angels. In fact, it became a tradition for Bill to request that song from the band leader or DJ at every wedding they attended, so they could enjoy a nice romantic slow dance together. One of his personal favorite songs was the 1959 “Theme from a Summer Place” by Percy Faith. Even in his final hours in the hospital the words of this beautiful song, some of which go like this, played in the background:
“There's a summer place where it may rain or storm, yet I'm safe and warm. For within that summer place, your arms reach out to me and my heart is free from all care. For it knows there are no gloomy skies when seen through the eyes of those who are blessed with love...”
Bill and Eileen shared a common attraction to anyplace with warm sun and sand, and clear blue water. In 1977, they purchased a bungalow down the Jersey Shore in Chadwick Beach, just steps from that beautiful warm sand. Close enough to home, Chadwick Beach was a place where Bill loved to go for long walks along the shore. That little bungalow served Bill and Eileen well and was the place where their boys grew up spending their summers. In more recent years, as Bill and Eileen’s boys graduated college, married and had children of their own, the little bungalow that had served them well for so many years was rebuilt to accommodate their growing family. It has since became tradition for the whole family to gather every Fourth of July week for fun times together barbequing, spending time at the beach during the day, and seeing the fireworks at night.
Bill’s love and devotion was first and foremost to his family. Throughout his life, he did his best to be a great provider and to invest in each one of their lives in a meaningful way. He was also devoted to service in his community. When his sons were young and were beginning to get involved in sports at the Wayne Boys and Girls Club, Bill joined them by volunteering as their soccer coach. He coached there for many years and, even when his own boys went off to college, Bill continued to serve on the Board of Directors and helped expand the club to other towns to become the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey.
Bill was the beloved husband of Eileen, blest in marriage for 48 years. He was the loving father of: Michael and wife Allison Lehault of San Pedro, CA, Christopher and wife Lindsay Lehault of Cranford, NJ, and William B., III and wife Kathleen Lehault of Warwick, NY; cherished grandfather of: Alexandra, Sebastian, Donovan, Miles, William B., IV, and Sidney; dear brother of the late Karen Dranginis; dear brother-in-law of: Gary and wife JoAnn Compesi of Wayne, and Alan Compesi of Wayne; dear uncle of: Michael Lindewurth, the late Bryan Lindewurth, Jenna and husband James Furfaro, and Philip Compesi; and great-uncle of: Franco Furfaro and Anthony Furfaro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Bill’s life may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest, New Jersey, 153 Garside Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470. To donate online Click Here.
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