William (Bill) George Artiss was born in Petrolia, Ontario on July 28, 1938. He passed away September 16, 2022 in the same hospital in which he was born after a long and productive life.
Bill led a remarkably rich life dedicated to his family and service to his community. He met his future wife, Jeanann Katherine Andrew, in high school. She recognized a gem in the rough and the two married shortly after graduation – a loving partnership which endured 61 years. The couple lived briefly in Sarnia, Ontario until Bill began training as a nuclear technician. He was hired as a First Operator at the Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station and moved his family to Port Elgin, Ontario in 1966. Bill and Jeanann’s family grew to include three children: Heather Anne (1963); Thomas Andrew (1966); and Jennifer Elizabeth (1969).
In 1970 Bill joined a team of Ontario Hydro nuclear engineers who helped commission a new CANDU reactor in India. Bill boldly relocated his young family for two and a half years to the remote desert community of Rajasthan in North India. Following his return to Ontario, Bill worked briefly in Port Elgin before relocating again to Fredericton, New Brunswick where he helped plan the commissioning of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station. Bill settled his family in Rothesay, New Brunswick in 1979 where, in addition to being a senior control room operator at the PLNGS, Bill began a life of community service. He served on the Parent’s Advisory Council of the Rothesay Middle School, led the formation of the Fundy Solid Waste Action Committee, the installation of a new wastewater treatment facility and the construction of the new Rothesay Town Hall.
Bill dedicated his post-retirement life to the people of Rothesay. He served as a Rothesay Town Council member for several years before serving as mayor for two terms from 1993-2001 and deputy mayor for another two terms. Bill played an instrumental role in the eventual amalgamation of Rothesay, East Riverside-Kingshurst, Fairvale, Renforth and Wells into one governing body.
In addition to his life spent in community service, Bill stayed active in the Canadian nuclear industry following retirement from NB Power. He formed his own consulting company, traveling twice to Romania to work on CANDU projects in their newly-formed democratic republic. In 2017, Bill fully retired and he and his wife moved back to Petrolia to be closer to family.
Bill is predeceased by one daughter, Jennifer (2006). He is survived by his wife, Jeanann; his sister, Mary Ann Miller; his brother Joseph Artiss; his daughter Heather Thomson and her husband Rex; and his son Thomas and his wife Heidi. He leaves a legacy of two grandchildren, Gwyneth and William, two step-grandchildren, Christian and Stephanie and a great-grandson, Rowan.
The cremation will take place at the Needham-Jay Funeral Home in Petrolia with a service at Christ Church Anglican, Petrolia ON in early October with a memorial service to follow in June of 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Canadian Diabetes Association.
July 28 1938 September 15 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de William Artiss July 28 1938 September 15 2022..
Décès pour la Ville:Petrolia, Province: Ontario