William “Bill” or “Wild Bill” Korpela, Jr., age 73, of Maple Lake, formerly of Hutchinson, died Sunday, November 19, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Maple Lake with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Culynn Curtis will officiate. Burial will take place at Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
William Arthur Korpela, Jr. was born July 18, 1950, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota to William Sr. and Martha (Maunaki) Korpela. Bill grew up in Cokato, graduating from Cokato High School with the Class of 1968. While in high school, Bill was known as Mr. Football and obtained honorable mention. On September 19, 1970, Bill was united in marriage to Diana Schulze; they later divorced. Bill worked as a welder for a year, before he began his career in IT management. He worked at Prudential for 28 years, followed by six years at General Mills and Pillsbury. In retirement, Bill worked at Target in Hutchinson.
Bill was a member of the Hutchinson Lions and was chairman of the Patient Family Advisory Council at the Glencoe Hospital. He enjoyed spending time in the kitchen baking, cooking, brewing beer, and making wine. He also liked to do embroidery and laser cutting with BD Direct.
He is survived by his daughters, Kelli (Bill) Hoeft of Watkins and Katie (Kyle) Golby of Maple Lake; 3 grandchildren, Corbin, Mitchell, and Kelsey; nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Janet and Marvin Yerks, Betty and Allen Prosch, and Mary and Emil Dorf; grandson, William Fehn; many aunts and uncles; and nephew, Dale Yerks.
Bill’s grandchildren will serve as urn bearers. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Maple Lake.
Obituary, Guestbook, Video Tribute and Service Webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com