Obituary of William Albrecht

William Albrecht Our world looks different today. William J. (Bill) Albrecht passed away at home on the evening of August 11, 2009. He had suffered from CHF since 2005. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Bill was born February 12, 1933 in Temvik, ND, to Amelia and William Albrecht. In 1952 Bill married his sweetheart, Sandra Lepley. Bill and Sandra had and raised four children together. Bill was a true American. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1955 during the Korean War. After serving in the military, he moved his family to Grays Harbor and for the next ten years drove chip truck for Puget Sound, while dreaming of owning his own trucking company someday. In 1965 his dreams were realized and he found himself the proud owner of his first log truck, and W.J. Albrecht Trucking Company was born. He worked so hard! Logging during the week, sometimes up all night working on his log truck and finishing just in time to grab his lunch bucket and start a new day hauling logs. When the weekends would come, he would be found playing music in the most popular bar in Grays Harbor –and boy! Did he ever draw a crowd! Bill saved every penny he could from his music playing and logging business and a few years later bought his second log truck. He continued logging until 1972, and when the logging market went down, he traded the log trucks for his first long-haul highway truck. Then, tragically, in 1973 his wife Sandra passed away from cancer. This was a very hard period in Bills life and the next few years were a huge challenge and heartache for him but he kept on trucking right through the hard times, and before long, he bought his second highway truck. Then magically, in 1977, he met and married the second love of his life, Dee Hammersley. Bill and Dee made the perfect team and together they built W.J. Albrecht Trucking company up to 27 highway trucks and 50 trailers. They bought 5 bare acres of land in Rochester WA. – Just the perfect location for a growing trucking company. Bill and Dee alone added all the amenities on the property. They also acquired quite a collection of animals over the years and his favorite were his two cute little dogs named Tiki and Ruffus. He sold the trucking company in 1994 and retired. He turned the truck shop over to his son Jim, who turned it into a thriving truck repair shop. Bill and Dee also went on many camping trips through the years. The camping trips started with an old pickup with a half a camper (they called it the covered wagon) and an old horse trailer, but he always dreamed of owning a diesel pusher motor home. He kept working hard through the years and trading up RV’s until he finally acquired his dream. They bought a piece of property in Arizona and for the last twelve years they were snowbirds, spending their winters in Quartzsite, Az. They loved riding their quads and going to flea markets and potlucks with their Arizona friends. They also loved going to car shows and cruising in his 1958 Ford retractable hardtop. Bill LOVED his country music and was such a talented guitar player and singer. He always had his own bands. “The Bull shed Boys”, and “Bill Albrecht and the Evergreen Playboys” to name a few. These bands had a huge following around the harbor. He was always happy to belt out a tune at family reunions and social gatherings. Bill also had a remarkable sense of humor and was well known for teasing his children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. They all loved him dearly. Another of the many things Bill loved doing was ocean fishing. He often took friends and family on ocean fishing and crabbing trips in his boat. Many good times were had during these trips and there was always a story or a joke, and Bill was the best at telling them. Survivors include his wife Dee, his son James (Cher) Albrecht, and his three daughters: Kathryn Albrecht, Nora (Dave) Ephraim, and Angel (Rick) Elam: eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two sisters: Della Rockwell and Doris Stansell, his brother Larry Albrecht, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. To leave a condolence for the family, click on View Guestbook below: