William Joseph Germann's Obituary
William Joseph Germann, age 95, retired Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Supply Corp, former Traffic Manager, General Foods Corp. and retired Senior Material Planner for Schering-Plough, Inc., went to be with his Lord on June 26, 2026. Bill was born July 17, 1930 in Bronx, New York, to the late Henry and Alice Germann. He was proceeded in death by his wife of 58 years, Kathe A. Germann, his son, Gerald W Germann, his grandson, Toney Germann; his Brothers, Edward and Robert Germann. His sisters, Elanor Argula and Dorothy McDonough. He leaves two granddaughters, Cathy Germann Sesta and Mary Germann, McArthur. Daughter-in-law, Annie Germann, great granddaughters, Jessica Sesta, Caitlyn Sesta Campbell, Samantha and Sarah Chapman and Elena and Andrea McArthur.
After serving 25 years in the U.S. Navy, Bill was retired from active duty in Memphis July 1973. He was hired as Traffic Supervisor for General Foods Cop. and was soon advanced to Traffic Manager. In August 1980 he moved onto Schering-Plough as Senior Material Planner for its Coppertone Sun Products. Bill retired from Schering-Plough in 1990 under an early out program. He immediately became a member of the Plough Employee Retirement Klub (P.E.R.K.). He was soon elected as the P.E.R.K’s secretary, a position he held for three years. He subsequently served as Treasurer, Vice President and President and remained a member in good standing until the closing of Schering-Plough and subsequent sale to Merck.
Bill and Kathe became active communicants of St. Therese The Little Flower Catholic Church and remained so until their deaths. They had been married in Bremerhaven, Germany, where they met when Bill was stationed there. It was a civil marriage due to religious problems which they resolved and got married again and St. Therese later on. Bill served on the Parish Council, Finance Committee, Maintenance, Usher, Alter server, Lector and Eucharistic Minister. They were members of the Legion of Mary. He served concurrently as a Vice President of Our Lady of Divine Grace Praesidium, St. Therese The Little Flower and as Vice President of Mary, Mother of the Church, Curia, The Diocese of Memphis. Bill and Kathe worked the dessert Tables and both baked cakes, cookies and brownies for the Dessert Sales. Bill and Kathe were easy-going people and were well liked in the church community; always smiling and ready to land a hand. They joined St. Therese in July 1974. Kathe was a member for 36 years and Bill for 47 years. Bill was recognized as a pillar of the church on April 18, 2021, at the 10:30 AM mass by Father Gonzales, the pastor for his 47 years of service and support of St. Therese.
Bill was devoted to his wife Kathe. She suffered with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) for four and a half years. She had also suffered a severe stroke, which paralyzed her right side and caused her to lose her speech. The AD finally took her life. Bill was her full-time caretaker until she passed on February 4, 2010; she could not have been in better hands. Bill will be greatly missed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.
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