Born October 29, 1936 in Buffalo New York, passed away at the age of 89 on March 4, 2026 after a year in the Memory Care Unit of the E.N. Rogers Veterans Memorial Hospital in Bedford, MA.

Known as Bill, he was the son of Ruth Wolff Bieger and 2Lt William J. Clements US Army, who died in France 1944 while fighting in World War II, and his stepfather Charles J. Bieger. Bill graduated in 1955 from Seneca Vocational High School, Buffalo, NY.

In his senior year, knowing that they were likely to be drafted, he and two of his classmates joined the Naval Reserve at NAS Niagara Falls, NY. In October 1956 he went on active duty and was sent to Memphis, TN for training. He returned to NAS Niagara Falls in December 1957. In January 1958 he received orders to NAS New Orleans, and in February he married his high school sweetheart Karen Helen Brauer. Thus began the first of many years of adventure in their 68 years of marriage. Bill and Karen moved to the Joint Air Reserve Training Center (JARTC) NAS New Orleans, LA. During their six years in New Orleans their first two children were born and Bill was sent back to Memphis for 9 months of additional training. Bill was honorably discharged in June 1964 with 8 years of active service and a rank of AT1. After leaving military service they moved back to the Buffalo area for a year before relocating to Billerica Massachusetts where their third daughter was born.

Bill applied his Naval Aviation Electronics training to work in the new field of computers, at Honeywell, Capadyne, and Data General. But he always preferred working with his hands, building a wooden rocking horse in the Navy base workshop in 1959 for his first-born daughter. He completely renovated and expanded the family’s small starter house, enhancing it with fine carpentry and cabinetry. The love of craftsmanship led him to a wooden boat building program in 1979 at the Chewonki Foundation Boys Camp in Maine, and the opening of his own business in 1980 as William Clements Boatbuilder in North Billerica. There he built canoes, rowboats, and sailboats for clients across the country, including one shipped to Mexico. He participated in wooden boat shows from Maine to Chesapeake Bay to the Adirondacks for many years accompanied by his wife. He taught classes at shows and at his own shop, was featured in several boating publications, and was always willing to talk about wooden boats.

An avid outdoorsman, he loved cross-country skiing, black powder muzzleloader shooting, fishing, camping, and sailing. Bill and Karen acquired a lot on Nicatous Lake in Hancock County, Maine in 1973. Initially accessible only by boat, the first camp accommodations were tents. Over time they cleared enough trees to build a cabin, then expanded it, and added a large garage/shop. Summers were busy with building projects, fishing, sailing, and enjoying the friendship of families around the lake. But the best camp memories were the feeling of being at home when they arrived there, watching the beautiful sunsets over the water directly in front of them.

Bill was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church of the Savior (LCS) in Bedford MA, where he also contributed finely crafted woodwork including the large wooden cross mounted behind the altar. He joined LCS mission trips to Waveland MS, New Orleans, Mexico, and Hungary.

Bill and Karen’s travels included France to visit the War Memorial Cemetery in Epinal where his father is buried, several trips to Alaska, cross-country campervan trips, and a riverboat cruise in Europe.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years Karen, daughters Christine Clements, Elaine Clements and husband William Schneller, and Lynda Pitre and husband Kevin Pitre, grandchildren Jessica and David Vitt, Mia and Elena Zopes, great-grandson Luke Doyle, and his sister Kathleen (Bieger) Babcock in North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on April 11, 2026, 11:00am at the Lutheran Church of the Savior, 426 Davis Road, Bedford, MA 01730. The family will be greeting guests between 9am – 11am with the church service following. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. People attending the luncheon will be invited to share one special memory they have of Bill. We encourage their participation. All are welcome.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the church at the above address or to the Central Food Ministry, Inc., 370 West Sixth Street, Lowell, MA 01850.