William J. Mackey

William J. Mackey passed away on Saturday, November 9th after living a very full and happy life of 87 years. Bill Mackey was the youngest of four children and the only boy in the Mackey family of Dearborn, Michigan. He’s preceded in death by his father Francis (aka Chris), mother Elizabeth, and his sisters Frances Mackey, Jean Lucas,  Beverly Lorey (aka Buffy), and his granddaughter, Elsa. He’s survived by his wife Margrit Mackey (nee Kubitza, formerly Kalis), sons Eric Kalis (Kathy Kalis), Kevin Mackey (Kate Mackey), and Sean Mackey (Amy Masko), his eight grandchildren (Andrea Prena, Ryan Kalis, Stephen Mackey, Margrit Mackey, Zosia Mackey, Raymond Mackey, William Mackey, and Elizabeth Mackey), and one great-grandchild (Simon Prena).

As a young boy, Bill joined the Boy Scouts. He earned the rank of Eagle and worked for several years at Detroit area scout camps where he developed a lifelong interest in canoeing, leatherwork, woodcarving, and camping.

Bill graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in 1957. He attended the University of Detroit from 1957-59 before transferring to Wayne State University where earned his Bachelor’s degree and his teaching certificate in 1961. He’d go on to earn his Masters at Saginaw Valley State University in 1981. While at Wayne State, he enrolled in a fencing course and fell in love with the speed, beauty, and skill of the sport. He was a member of the nationally ranked team under Maestro Donasi.

Adventure, camping, canoeing, and seeing this great big world was exactly what he wanted out of life. His early years were filled with various exploits including climbing The Grand Teton, canoeing the Snake River, and winning several canoe races in the Midwest.

By 34 years old, Bill seemed to be a consummate bachelor with his van and canoes, but a friend and regular at Dakota Inn Rathskeller in Detroit eventually caught his eye. Singing German songs together turned into romance and in 1971 he married his canoe partner for life, Margrit. He loved his new bride and her two sons, Eric and Kevin with all his heart. Their third son, Sean, was born in 1973. Together Bill and Margrit raised the three boys to love the outdoors.

In 1980, Bill and Margrit moved from the suburbs out “to the country” on eight acres of woods with a little creek running through the back. They built their own house on that land with help from the boys, family, and friends in Washington, Michigan. Bill continued to teach physics and eventually started taking classes in computer science because he saw the potential benefit to his students.

Bill retired from teaching in 1991, and with Margrit, they began their next adventure in Colorado where they lived until 2015. They moved to Spring Hill, Florida when Bill knew his body couldn’t take all the snow shoveling and fast rivers of Colorado anymore. He spent the last several years of his life paddling the crystal clear stream of the Weeki Wachee, watching the manatees and talking to people along the way. 

Bill was as much a learner as he was a teacher. He loved to tell stories–it didn’t matter how many times you heard it–because it was a way to connect, to teach, to share. Undoubtedly, every member of his family could recite his speed-reading story verbatim. Every morning, Bill made coffee for Margrit just like he had for all 53 years of their marriage. He died from a heart attack at their home on November 9th. Donations in his name can be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital. A private family memorial will be held at Timber Pines Country Club.

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