William Stanley Pieh, 65, passed away at his home on Friday, April 14, 2000. A lifelong resident of Burlington, Wisconsin, he was born on December 8, 1934 to William and Katherine Partee Pieh. On August 22, 1959, at St. Rita's Catholic Church in West Allis, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Rose Witiak. He served in the National Guard and then the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1954 until 1957, serving in Japan as a Radio Technician. He received his education at St. Charles Grade School, St. Mary's High School, and graduated from Rochester Ag School. He studied horseshoeing at California Polytechnical School and received a degree in Animal Husbandry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agriculture in 1964. He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Burlington, American Legion, was a licensed private pilot and a member of the Burlington Flying Club. He was also a member of the American Farriers Association, Upper Midwest Horseshoers Association, Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association and many other blacksmithing and horseshoeing associations. He also was an Assistant Scoutmaster for St. Mary's Troop #334 in Burlington for many years, and was a member with his son, John, of the Burlington Rifle Club. Bill was owner and president of Centaur Forge, Ltd. from 1960 until the present.

Surviving are his wife, Bonnie Rose Pieh, daughters Karen (Tim) Urness of Burlington, Amy Pieh of Lake Forest, CA, sons John (Petra) of Burlington, Michael (Susan) of Milwaukee, and Andrew (Theresa) of Tucson, AZ., 7 grandchildren, Kelly, Sean, Ryan, Molly and Erin Urness, and Michael and Sarah Pieh. He is preceded in death by his parents. A military graveside service was held at St. Charles Cemetery on April 18th.

Editor's note: For an interview Anvil Magazine did with Bill Pieh in 1985, go to Anvil online at www.anvilmag.com.

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