William Carl Shermer 1-2-1939 -April 18, 2023

Bill was born in Miami FL to Herman Shermer and Ethel Prinzing Shermer the 5th of 5 sons, Herman Fred, Leonard Robert, twins Harvey and Earl, who passed away shortly after birth. He grew up in Crawfordsville, Indiana where the family went to be with other family when his father joined the Navy to serve in World War.

He graduated from Crawfordsville High School, attended Purdue University and graduated from the University of Miami. Following graduation, he severed in the United States Army as a Lieutenant and was stationed at the Army Pictorial Center in Long Island City, N.Y. to make Army training films.

Bill accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, at a young age, and went searching for a church in NYC and God led him to Manhattan Baptist Church where he met his wife, Pat Doolittle and they were married October 12, 1963, at Manhattan Baptist Church, NYC. While at the Army Pictorial Center, Bill was sent to Homestead Air Force Base in Miami, FL, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Upon leaving the Army, he returned home, bringing with him his new wife. Bill worked for RR Donnelley, a printing firm in Crawfordville, Indiana, until he felt God\'s call into full time ministry. He studied at and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth Texas with a Master of Divinity. He pastored several American Baptist Churches throughout the Midwest, until God brought the family to South Dakota in 1998. Bill and Pat both fell in love with The Black Hills and Bill decided to retire at age 62 and stay here. While living in Rapid City since January 2001, Bill served interim churches in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana until the church could find a new pastor. He also preached at the Wicksville Community Church, intermittently, for many years and was a member of First Baptist Church, Rapid City.

Both loved to hike and throughout their lives hiked all over the county. Bill also enjoyed baseball, with the Cleveland Indians being his favorite and once was able to meet and talk with his hero ballplayer, Bob Feller and get a signed photo. Bill played on several church softball teams as a pitcher and got to coach a winning girl\'s 4-H softball team while a pastor in Graymont, Illinois.

Bill and Pat have two children, Andrew Kent Shermer (Holly) of Downers Grove IL and Kerry Ann Shermer­ Hugenot (Jarrod) of Albany, NY; they also serve in a Christian Ministry. Bill is preceded in death by his parents and brothers.