William J. Balduc, 51, of N-11891 Vanderhagen Rd., Ironwood Township, died Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, 2007, in his home, following a courageous, 3 1/2 year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He was born Jan. 2, 1956, in Ironwood, son of Marianne (Skaja) and the late Robert "Bud" Balduc, attended St. Ambrose Grade School, and graduated from Ironwood Catholic High School in 1975. He then attended Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Ashland, Wis. for one year. Bill was employed as a welder/pipefitter for Local 506, Plumbers and Pipefitters, in various locations in the midwest for many years, retiring due to ill health in 2004. He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and a past member of the Aurora Athletic Club. An avid NASCAR fan, Bill had his dream fulfilled in September of 2006 by the Dream Foundation when he met his favorite driver, No. 48, Jimmie Johnson, at Hendricks Motorsports headquarters in North Carolina. On Aug. 4, 1979, he was married to the former Brenda J. Makela of Wakefield at the Immacualte Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, by the late Rev. Jospeh Kichak. Brenda survives. Also surviving are two sons, Travis (Anna), and Troy, both of Ironwood, and a grandson, Hayden; his mother, Marianne Balduc, Ironwood; five brothers, Louie (Jean), Ironwood, Gary (Carol), and Michael (Wanda), both of Wakefield, Patrick (Kim), Ironwood, and Edward (Mary), Bessemer; eight sisters, Lois (James) Seabury, Wentworth, MI, Roberta (Jeffrey) Hautala, Wakefield, Gale (A.J.) Johnson, Ashland, Debbie (Rick) Favero, Eagle River, Wis., Denise (Mark) Mancini, Lake Geneva, Wis., Diane (Scott) Maki, Bessemer, Francine (Brig) Sorber, Okemos, and Ann Marie Lightner (Joe Oakland), Stoughton, Wis.; his father-and-mother-in-law, Carl and Eileen Makela, Wakefield; uncle, George Skaja, Minocqua, Wis.; aunt, Frances Hannula, Hurley; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Tim and Lori Makela, and Mary Ann and Tom Marzari, all of Wakefield, and Scott and Nicole Makela, Bayside, Wis.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many dear friends. Besides his father, who died in 2003, Bill was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Catherine Makela, in 2001. At Bill's request, his body has been donated to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Anatomy, for research purposes. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the William Balduc Scholarship Fund, N-11891 Vanderhagen Rd., Ironwood, MI 49938, or to Regional Hospice Services, N-10561 Grandview Ln., Ironwood, MI 49938. To view Bill's obituary online, sign the register book and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood