Bill Wiebelt

William Wiebelt, born on March 18, 1947, passed from this life on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Known as Bill or Billy throughout his life he was the oldest of four children born to his immigrant parents Werner and Agnes (Coerwinkle) Wiebelt. He grew up in the Setauket area and spent the last 45 years of his life in Rocky Point.

Bill and his wife Carol were married for almost 50 years. Being very different people, they had to work on their marriage, but they enjoyed each other’s company and shared common goals for life. They relied on each other. Bill grounded her and she lightened his outlook. It worked. They had two sons, Jeffrey Lyle (deceased) and Thomas Henry. Their family was recently expanded by the joyous addition of Danielle and his granddaughter, Charli Alice.

Bill was a Viet Nam veteran, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. After returning home he worked at Chesters and Tuey’s in Setauket while completing his bachelor’s degree at St. Joseph’s College. He was then hired at the newly formed Independent Group Home Living (IGHL) program where he worked for 40 years in a wide variety of jobs as the company grew. The longest time was spent as Supervisor of Operations overseeing maintenance crews. He was given a wonderful retirement send off in 2019.

The great loves of Bill’s life were the waters of the north shore of Long Island, fast boats and fast cars. He water skied with friend George Wiehe in the 1960s and 1970s in their increasingly speedier boats and had a jet boat in the past few years. He owned a Corvette, a motorcycle and had recently purchased his dream car, a six-speed Acura Integra X. Life slows down though and after retirement he bought a heavy-duty fat tire electric bike that he rode all over northern Brookhaven Town. Hitting the beach at low tide was his favorite. He was in the best shape of his life, after the time he was in Army basic, and he loved it!

When not racing around, Bill loved gardening, mowing the lawn, stacking and re-stacking wood for the fires he built in his chiminea, and sleeping and sunbathing in his hammock. The addition of Ellie, his mini poodle in 2020, rounded it all out. She kept him company as he worked and sat sentry on his lap while he rested.

Finally, Bill was a fighter. He overcame many difficulties in his life and was always trying to improve himself. He fought until the end of his illness and then decided it was time to go. Bill will be missed by many.

Bill is survived by his wife Carol, son Thomas and his partner Danielle and their daughter Charli, Russ and Janet Wiebelt, Regina and Bill Friedman, Chip and Kate Wiebelt, Kathy and Stu Silberman, Karen and Steven Anderson, their children and grandchildren many of whom Bill enjoyed teasing and sharing silly texts with, Kevin Davis and his father-in-law, Dale Davis.

In lieu of flowers, Bill’s family is asking for donations to the American Cancer Society.