William (Bill) Nielsen Fairgrieve died peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday, February 11, 2026. He was able to spend his last days looking out his bedroom window at two lakes – Portage Lake and Lake Michigan – in the home he had built in Onekama, Michigan.

Bill was born in Lakewood, Ohio on March 29, 1952, to William Robertson Fairgrieve and Ruth Louise Nielsen. He attended Miami University (Ohio) and Western Michigan University where he earned his master's in social work. Bill married Mary Margaret Collins on August 14, 1976, at the Sesquicentennial Chapel on Miami University's campus in Oxford, Ohio.

Bill worked for several social services agencies in Lansing, Michigan including Michigan League for Human Services and National Council on Alcoholism Michigan chapter. Bill served as Medicaid budget specialist and later deputy director at the Michigan House Fiscal Agency. After 15 years working for the State of Michigan, he retired in 2009 and moved to Onekama. Continuing the theme of service to his community, Bill volunteered to serve as treasurer for the Portage Lake Association and for the Sunset Point Condo Association. He enjoyed golfing with his wife and son at Crystal Mountain and with the "Romeos" group at various courses in the area. He was an active runner and cyclist. He was an avid reader and member of the Lakeshore Men's Book Club. Bill was successful in tracing his family heritage on both of his parents' sides and enjoyed travel to Scotland twice as well as hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Bill loved music and attended many Cheap Trick concerts, hanging out backstage with his cousin, guitarist Rick Nielsen. Whenever he walked the shores of Lake Michigan, Bill sought out heart-shaped rocks to give to his wife, Mary, amassing a sizeable collection of these small signs of his boundless love.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Margaret Fairgrieve. Leaving to honor and remember him are his wife Mary, his son Andrew (Carolyn Blood) and grandson Franklin, as well as his sister Anne Thompson; sisters-in-law Catherine Collins, Jean VanOss (Mark) and Tina Larson; brother-in-law J. Michael Collins (Kathy); nieces Jess, Kate, Jeanne, Becca, Maureen, Emily, Karin, Ellie, and Kristin; nephews Kevin, Timothy, John, Ben, and Justin.

Donations in his memory can be made to: Alzheimer's Association – Greater Michigan Chapter (call 248-351-0280, Tu/Th 10am-3pm) or Hospice of Michigan (www.hom.org/donate)

Celebration of Bill's Life will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 2-5pm at Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI