Wild Willy

**IanA** · 12-03-20

Sad news. Our great contributor Bill Telle (Wild Willy) passed away Friday November 20. It seems, within hours of making his last entry in this forum.
Bill was simply the most supportive and giving human being I have ever known but never actually, physically met! His support for me when I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2014 was extraordinary and inspiring. I did not find out until later that his wife Karen had been lost to lymphoma some years earlier and he had been active in blood cancer support groups ever since.
Things might have got a bit rowdy on this forum when Bill was on full song, but it was never, ever dull!

Vale Wild Willy

www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/muscatinejournal/name/theodore-w-telle-bill-obituary?n=theodore-w-telle-bill&pid=197169513&fhid=13733

**Richard230** · 12-03-20

I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was certainly a shining light on this forum. The Worst Jokes Ever section will never be the same without him. Rest in peace, Bill.

**scf** · 12-03-20

I feared that.
He had not returned any of my latest PM’s.
You will be missed Bill.
RIP

**MGD109** · 12-03-20

Sad News.

**GregWoo** · 12-03-20

I'm so sorry

**notacop** · 12-03-20

Sad to lose the good ones.

**steve n rose** · 12-03-20

Thanks for following up on this, Ian. I thought this was the case, as you know. He is greatly missed on here.

**stephen** · 12-03-20

Sorry to hear that Willy has moved on.

**Elizdad** · 12-03-20

RIP Wild Willy

**Lag** · 12-03-20

Yes sad news,, I'm sorry to hear,,, it was good to see he kept his sense of humor and spirit right up to the end,,!!

**308bever** · 12-03-20

R.I.P. Willy, he was a character for sure, long may he ride on and around the next bend, Cheers Bever

**Bryan Baker** · 12-03-20

My sympathy goes to his loved ones.

**RidaMile** · 12-04-20

Ride on, Wild Willy.

**Buzzz** · 12-04-20

Sad day. RIP Willy.

**SteveT** · 12-04-20

I type this through tears.

Never met the man, but he has made me laugh out loud so often with his humour & wit on this site and will continue to do so as I re-read his posts.

Swift journey Wild Willy, swift journey

**Gunther** · 12-04-20

He wrote he was approaching the last bump on his road, we all knew, but for me it's sad anyway

**TheMeteor** · 12-04-20

Ian, thank you for sharing. I am so saddened to be reading this. When he announced his illness here in his "last bump" posting recently, it hit me with great sadness. It is a bit 'peculiar' to me (not sure if that is the right word?) that one can be impacted by so by someone they pretty much only know online. I read Bill's last bump in the road announcement to my wife that night that I first read it and, every few words, my voice would break as I read it to her. Many of us have been here a while.

I actually did meet Bill briefly at the Cass F800 Rally and got to chat at breakfast one morning. I found him kind, humorous and warm. He will be missed. I am glad that he had a chance to say, 'goodbye', to all. Many folks do not get that chance. I will tip a glass to him this evening and think of the memories.

**IanA** · 12-05-20

Thanks Gerry. Bill was on my bucket list of people I hoped to meet sometime...sometime. Bloody Covid has stuffed those plans!
As a measure of this amazing man, here is something he sent me when I found I was back on the Lymphoma treadmill two years ago.

Each Other

When we strip away
all that is inconsequential
And much of what we feel is important
is inconsequential
We're left with what really matters
Each other

In sorrow painted with tears
and in smiles tinged with laughter
In the brightness of day
and in the darkness of night
In the rebirth of spring
and in the aging of winter
We have each other

In the pain of grief
and in the joy of new life
In the emptiness of doubt
and in the fullness of hope
and in a BMW forum
We have each other.

We possess much
and own nothing
We strive to reach perfection
and lose sight of the fact
that we're already there
We have all we really want
and everything we really need
We have Each Other

A saxophonist, motorcyclist and... a poet. We are really lucky to have "met".

**TheMeteor** · 12-05-20

Ian, very touching and personal poem. Thanks for posting...it demonstrates the power of friendships and caring for one another.

**whojigger** · 12-09-20

I never met the man but I surly knew his heart. He will be welcomed by the ancestors for sure.

**lang2u@yahoo.com** · 12-09-20

Thanks to the unforgettable Wild Willy for all his contributions to the forum... you'll be missed 😔

**Runmyownlife** · 12-10-20

For those who wish to reminisce.

Edit: I had attempted to include a link showing Willy's prior posts. Sorry, didn't work.

**Rev Ken** · 12-10-20

Originally Posted by Runmyownlife

For those who wish to reminisce.

https://f800riders.org/forum/search....rchid=17480555

It isn't recognised.

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