William 'Coach Bill' Mierzejewski

William Stanley "Coach Bill" Mierzejewski, 73, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Casper Medical Center after a short illness.

Born May 19, 1948, in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of Stanley William and Barbara (Blume) Mierzejewski. Graduating from Plainville High School (Connecticut) in 1966 he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Attending Northwestern Connecticut Community College on an athletic scholarship Bill graduated with an Associate Degree in Education, also being named athlete of the year in 1968.

Joining the Peace Corps he was sent to Afghanistan to be the PE teacher and basketball coach at Kabul University. While there he met Melene Tippets whom he married on December 10, 1970, in Zollikofen, Switzerland. Returning to the states, Bill obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Brigham Young University. His first teaching job was in Greybull, Wyo., in 1973 where he taught and coached. After earning his Master's from BYU he took a job as teacher and coach in Grace, Idaho.

Bill loved adventure and travel and thus accepted a position with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in 1983 teaching and coaching on military bases in Okinawa Japan, Seoul Korea and Subic Bay Philippines. He became an administrator in 2000 until his retirement in 2012.

Bill loved sports, especially baseball and was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox.  He enjoyed fishing, golfing and going to the movies. He was a coach and mentor to many. Beloved husband, father, grandfather (Ji-chan), brother and friend, Bill was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

He is survived by his wife, Melene, of 50 years; children, Talli (Jeremy) Poulsen, Michael (Amy) Mierzejewski, Eryn (Jeremiah) Hoellein, Andrew (Alyson) Mierzejewski, and Alex (Whitney) Mierzejewski; brother, Michael (Sheri) Mierzejewski; and eleven grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister; and two brothers.

Bill's funeral will be Friday, July 2 at 11 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thermopolis with Bishop Duane Maddock officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family and messages and memories may be offered at http://www.mortfh.com.