William “Bill” Joseph Schirrmacher, 70, of Acworth GA, passed away on Feb 5, 2021 from injuries sustained in a car accident. William was born on August 1, 1950 to Eugene Schirrmacher and Virginia Schirrmacher Boyd in Cortland, NY. After high school graduation William joined the army and served his country during the Vietnam War. Throughout his time in the army he earned many medals including a Bronze Star. William was a graduate from Santa Fe Community college and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of FL. William wed Peri Lyn Ford, in 1979, and they have one child William Kenneth “Ken” Schirrmacher. Family meant everything to William and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family.
William was also a passionate volunteer and Master Gardener. He could often be found volunteering his time to various organizations. In 2010 he was honored in Bradford County for 10 years of volunteer service to the Master Gardener Program. In 2012 he was honored by the Bradford County School Board for volunteering 1605 hours for agricultural education. Some of the projects he worked on was Buzz Busters, a mosquito tracking and control program, and providing schools with gardens. William also served on the Bradford Soil and Water Conservation Board from 2005 to 2013. William enjoyed tending his personal garden and providing information and advice to other avid gardeners. He loved jazz and old time rock and roll. He was a wonderful cook and liked trying out new recipes to feed his family. In 2016 Bill was chosen by the Roswell GA Rotary Club’s Honor Air Program to be flown with other veterans to Washington DC to be recognized for their service to our country. This meant a lot to him and really touched his heart. William was a member of American Legion Post 316 of South Cherokee County. He was lovingly called their “candy man” because he would talk to managers of numerous local stores to get candy donated for the two big parades the American Legion participates in yearly. William was also a Master Mason.
Anyone who knew William knew that he was the most loving father, husband and grandfather any family could ask for. William was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Peri, his son Ken and daughter-in-law Mina Schirrmacher, his grandchildren Scarlet, Harrison and Iris Schirrmacher, his brother Harvey and Carolyn Schirrmacher, and three sisters Carolyn and Dennis Shepherd, Chris and Skip Head and Candace Hadley, also his mother-in-law Bonnie Ford, Holly and Barry Billings, their son Cade, Kenna and Rick and Lacey Dreer, Phillip, Kassady, Mallary and Ellowynn Perkinson, Brittany and Tracy Bradley and their children Rhett, Teagan, and Ridge, and Sharyn Ford. The family requests that in lieu flowers that a donation in his name be made to Roswell Rotary Foundation for Honor Air P.O. Box 783, Roswell GA 30077. There will be a private celebration of life to honor William in Starke with family. At a later date he will be interred in the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.
