Beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away Thursday, April 29, 2021 at Brookdale Assisted Living. Age 82 years. The son of the late Joseph R. and Jean W. (Smith) Thibodeau, William was born October 27, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963. He married Virginia (Ginger) Banas, his loving wife of 52 years, on August 24, 1968. She survives him. Bill graduated from St. Theresa High School in Detroit in 1957. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English at the University of Detroit and his Master’s Degree in Guidance & Counseling from Eastern Michigan University. Bill’s teaching and boys’ basketball coaching career included the Detroit Cathedral High School, University of Detroit High School, Grand Rapids Northview High School, and Saginaw Arthur Hill High School, and he retired from teaching at the Saginaw Center for the Arts and Sciences, now SASA (Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy). He was a member of the Michigan Education Association, Lone Tree Council and Tri-City Action for Peace. Bill enjoyed playing golf, reading, traveling and spending summers at his geodesic dome that he built on Bois Blanc Island.

Surviving besides his wife Ginger are two sons, Stephen and Jennifer Thibodeau, Annapolis, Maryland and their daughter, Lizzy; Andrew Thibodeau, Bay City; two brothers, Dennis and Donna Thibodeau; Robert Thibodeau; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Janice Thibodeau; Joanne Osmer, Michael Banas, Joseph and LeeAnn Banas; several nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Thibodeau, and by a sister-in-law, Suzanne Krolicki.

Honoring Mr. Thibodeau’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, United Way of Saginaw, or Veterans for Peace.