William “Bill” Sincock, 74, of Baxter, Minnesota died peacefully in “The Wee Small Hours of the Morning” on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, following a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer. A private commemoration of his life was held in the Minneapolis area for family and friends on December 22, 2012.

Bill’s incredible sense of humor, gift for telling stories, and many other talents will not only be missed but will also provide lasting memories for family and friends. He favored the music of the 30s and 40s, with the uncanny ability of identifying 100’s of songs by the first one or two notes. “Well Sue (Bill's wife), Are You “Franked” out yet??” (A reference to Bill's enjoyment of singing Frank Sinatra's music, according to relative Art Sincock).

He was a master of the history of films of the 30s and 40s, to the point of not only knowing entire casts, but also having the amazing ability to speak the dialogue of his favorite movies with the sound off, especially those with Bogie, Montgomery Cliff and The Duke. (A favorite game he often played with his Brother-In Law, Jim)  Bill also was probably “the foremost expert on the Civil War in the Brainerd Lakes Area.”

Bill was kind, sensitive and lived the meaning of unconditional love through his words and actions. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance and sing in the rain.”  Bill was an Advisory Council Member for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program -"A Community of Talents Serving You" - a local organization in the Baxter, MN area.  Here is an example of Bill's writing on his favorite subject: HUMOR which he shared in one of their newsletters:

Laughter just might be the best medicine - Humorist Bennett Cerf said "Laughter is the greatest humanizer and medicine God has given us.  It can relieve tension and hysteria faster than all of the newest pills rolled into one.  There is no more beautiful, soul-satisfying sound in all the world than a solid, reverberating belly laugh."  Sometimes the urge to laugh is so powerful and even inappropriate that we find it better to surpress it...as during the poignancy of a wedding ceremony (should you find something funny) or during a church service.  Why do things seem even funnier when you're not supposed to be laughing?

An example of surpressed laughter and true story: One cold December morning I decided to take the bus Downtown, as the roads were being cleared from a terrific snowstorm the night before.  A man was the only other person standing with me at the bus stop and we hadn't said a word to each other in the five minutes we'd been standing there.  Then, as the bus was stopping for us, he said, "I'm so excited - I'm taking my entire family to Colorado for Christmas."  "Oh, that's great," I said.  "Are you going to ski out there?"  I asked.  "No," he replied, turning to me on the bus steps, "We're gonna drive!"  Well - I wanted to explode with laughter and wouldn't even sit next to him in fear I would do so and he being a total stranger.

President Lincoln said, "With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die."  Humor can be misunderstood -- I recently attended a meeting of a local service club where the membership was seriously discussing a rather touchy subject.  One member was being rather flippant about it, annoying some members.  As soon as he realized the effect he was having, he stood up and said, "Before we go any further, I want to explain something.  Just because I make light of a situation, does not by any stretch mean I take that situation lightly -it's just my way of dealing with it" - and peace was restored.

It is true that we love a joke that lands us a pat on the back while it kicks the other fellow downstairs!  William Thackeray said, "Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society."

Maybe laughter is the best medicine.  "For health and the constant enjoyment of life, give me a keen and ever present sense of humor as it is the next best thing to an abiding faith in Providence."  G.B. Cheever.

He who laughs, lasts...so wherever you go - don't forget to take along your sense of humor! 

The best memories of him are recalled with smiles. He had a quick wit, he loved to find the humor in life’s absurdities, and he lived to make people laugh. He will be remembered for his love and loyalty to his wife, family, friends and his adoring dog, Zack.

Preceded in death by parents Arthur and Irene; sisters Jane Sincock (also our classmate), Linda Sammis, and son, William A Sincock, Jr. Survived by loving wife and best friend for 35 years, Susan (nee Tiegs), sister Marilyn Leadens (William); and the close-knit members of the Sincock, Specht and Tiegs families.
 

Bill's family holds a heartfelt appreciation for Andrea, Ruth, and Deb’s staff support throughout Bill’s journey with cancer this past year.

We all knew Bill Sincock as a "one of a kind" gentleman.  He made us all laugh using his many talents.  He was upfront and ready to party at all of our class reunions.  Another like him will not pass this way anytime soon.