Bill was born on September 10, 1941, in Marine City, Michigan to William B. Joure and Katherine E. (Cunningham) Joure. He grew up living on the St. Clair River, and was raised with a love of the water, family and humor. He graduated from Marine City High School, and was a lifelong Mariner meeting up with good friends at reunions up into this decade.
In high school he was a member of the marching band and played trombone. The marching band would be invited to the University of Michigan to play every fall. These Saturdays forever tied him to the University of Michigan, and he became a lifelong fan of the Maize and Blue!
Bill graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit and went to work for Chrysler before finding a home and a career in the insurance industry, spending 30 years with Allstate Insurance. He began as an insurance adjuster and steadily progressed to District Claims Manager. The company brought him and his family to Grand Rapids in the early 1970s. Through Allstate he also met his wife Sally with whom he shared over 40 years.
He loved all that West Michigan had to offer and was able to reconnect with his love of the water on Lake Michigan. Bill was an avid boater, and he and Sally spent many years navigating the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Bill had a remarkable memory and an even greater sense of humor. He was a beloved father to his daughters Nancy and Beth, and his son Bill, and a beloved uncle to his nephew and niece Fred and Lesley. He was also close with his extended family of cousins with whom he stayed in touch throughout his life. Bill loved to socialize and loved to laugh and had a large network of friends.
He passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sally Joure; daughter, Nancy Joure; son, William Joure; daughter, Beth Joure; mother of his children, Dolores Tramper; nephew, Fred Winzer; niece, Lesley (Jeff) Green and four great nieces; special family friends, Linda Corl and Jon Banks, and Granddog, Tiberius.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William B. Joure and Katherine E. Joure and sister, Kay Ann (Kiki) Winzer.
A celebration of Bill’s life well-lived will take place on Friday, February 20th at O’Brien Eggebeen Gerst Funeral Home at 3980 Cascade Rd SE Grand Rapids, MI
Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with a service at 11:00 am. Please join us for lunch and a toast to Bill afterwards.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bill’s memory to The CC Fund at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School or The American Diabetes Association