William "Bill" A. Close

William A. (Bill) Close, 74, went to heaven on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Born on January 21, 1947, in Huntington, Indiana, Bill was a son of the late William and Mary Close.  Many people leave their mark in the community, but there are few to leave a legacy like Bill did. As a humble man, he would never agree that it was a legacy. He enjoyed dedicating his time to the children in our community. Whether it be his 30+ years of teaching in Fort Wayne Community Schools or his career coaching gymnastics and swimming, Bill impacted the lives of many. Early in his career many would have called him stern, scary, and dedicated, but as the years progressed, those same people realized his desire for everyone to reach their full potential both within their sport and in life. His love of those he served was never questioned, and many say that he became a softy over time.  As Bill’s health changed over time, his zest for life continued. His five grandchildren brought him the greatest joy, and there was always one more event on the horizon for him to attend. Whether it be a school event, an athletic event, or a visit, he always looked forward to the time he spent with his family. Bill professed that the most important things in life are faith, family, and friends.  Bill modeled this in his daily life as a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.  While he could have spent his days complaining of the challenges he faced and the suffering he endured, he chose to carry his cross and lead by example.  Bill is survived by his wife of 49 years, Terri; children, Jason (Janeen) Close of Fort Wayne and Nicole (Erik) Raasch of Carmel, IN; brothers, Richard 'Dick' (Kathy) Close of Indianapolis, IN and James 'Jim' (Kathy) Close of North Webster, IN; grandchildren, Caroline, Ryan, and Ella Close, Brock and Remmi Raasch. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am, Monday, October 11, 2021, at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 10700 Aboite Center Rd. with calling one hour prior. Visitation also 1:00 - 5:00 pm, Sunday, October 10, 2021, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne with a rosary at 12:30 pm. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the LeighAnn Marie Palmer Foundation.  The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Mark O’Shaughnessy and Dr. Lakshmi Aggarwal for their compassionate care of Bill over the years.