William Beuscher Henninger, 65, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at his home in Midland. Bill was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on July 17, 1944, son of the late William Beuscher and Caroline (Graf) Henninger. 

After spending his early years in Pennsylvania, Bill moved to Birmingham, Alabama with his parents and sister Marie as a young teenager. It was in Birmingham that Bill developed his love for music as a bassoonist with the Alabama All State Orchestra.  Bill then went on to get his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. At Georgia Tech, he played baritone saxophone with the Georgia Tech Marching Band.

Upon graduation, Bill accepted a position with Dow Corning and moved to Midland.  In Midland, Bill became involved with the Midland Symphony Orchestra as principal bassoonist and orchestra manager. It was this position that lead Bill to New York City for the American Symphony Orchestra League Management Training Program in 1973. As it happened, Jackie Pates, his future wife, was also in attendance. They were married on December 18th, 1976 in Jackie's hometown of Frederickburg, Virginia.  The couple lived in Midland for a few months before moving to Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Dow Corning where Bill took the position of President of Dow Corning Canada. In Toronto, Bill and Jackie began their family with the birth of their son Matthew in 1981, followed by their daughter Dana in 1984. In 1987, the family moved back to Michigan with Dow Corning. In Ann Arbor, Bill assisted with the establishment of the Dow Corning Automotive Division.  It was in 1993, that the Henningers returned to Midland with Dow Corning and Bill began his work in Human Resources. Upon retuning to Midland, Bill once again became involved with the Midland music community as a volunteer at the Midland Center for The Arts. The Center for The Arts provided Bill an avenue for his love of music and community involvement, a love that was only strengthened by Jackie's involvement with the Symphony as Principal Harpist. Over their years in Midland, Bill continued to volunteer at the Center for the Arts both onstage and backstage and served on the Music Society, Midland Symphony and Center for the Arts Boards and as the recording engineer for the Midland Symphony.  After retiring from Dow Corning, Bill was fortunate enough to turn his passion into his day job as he accepted the position of President and CEO of The Midland Center for The Arts.  Bill was an avid sailor, a passion which he shared with his family. With his son Matt, Bill enjoyed many summers of leisure and competition on the water, first in Bay City and later in Charlevoix, Michigan.  Bill will be remembered as a strong and loving father and husband, a lover of art, a talented musician and a captain on the water. His love, leadership, passion and humor will be missed by all.   Bill is survived by his wife Jacqueline Anne Henninger, his son Matthew William Henninger and his daughter Dana Anne Henninger. 

Funeral Services will take place at 11:00 a.m.., Thursday, July 8th at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Brent McCumons officiating.   Bill’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street on Wednesday, July 7^th from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.  Those planning an expression of sympathy the family requests that memorial gifts be offered to the Midland Center for the Arts

Notification Published by Ware-Smith-Woolever FH-Midland

Please contact the Funeral Services Provider if you wish to report any errors in this notification, or if you would like any additional information.