Bill (Guillermo) Melgoza, age 73 of Hershey, Nebraska passed away at the Kingwood Regional Medical Center in Kingwood, Texas on October 26, 2014 due to a massive heart attack.

Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 11, 1941 to Julia and Ralph Martinez Melgoza. They resided in Chicago before moving back to his mother's home town, Grand Island when was 11. Bill attended school in Grand Island until he enlisted in the Army from 1962 - 1964.

Returning to Grand Island, Bill married Judy Boernke. To that union they had two sons, David Melgoza and Robert Melgoza. He worked union jobs in Omaha and Grand Island until hiring on with Union Pacific Railroad on September 14, 1976. Bill then married Jo Schamp-Bridger on August 29, 1981 in Grand Island. They then moved to North Platte in 1982, and then to Hershey in December of 1985. They resided there until, while visiting their daughter Tina Bridger-McKay in Cleveland, Texas, Bill passed unexpectedly.

Bill loved life; he enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and playing pool on a Thursday night pool league. He was very devoted to his beloved Huskers. As he would say, his favorite professional NFL team was the Steelers and Boston Celtics were his favorite NBA team. Bill will be eternally missed by everyone that knew and loved him. He was by far the most generous man anyone could have ever met.

Bill is survived by his wife: Jo; children: David Melgoza of Grand Island, Robert Melgoza (Lisa) of Des Moines, IA, Tina Bridger-McKay (Mike) of Cleveland, TX, Marie Venzor of Hershey, NE; eleven grandchildren: Amber Greenwalt of Grand Island, Marlee Juarez (Gerardo) of Grand Island, Abby Lopez (Jesus Ray) of Grand Island, Courtney McKay of Crosby, TX, Samantha Hudson (Brandon) of Cleveland, TX, Katrina Hudson-Easley (Te) of Wahawie, HI, Kevin McKay (Meagan) of Houston, TX, Camie Edwardson of Grand Island, Joshua Wilson of Cleveland, TX, Andrea and Lukas Vensor of Hershey, NE; great-grandchildren: Emmanuel, Elijah, Malichi, and Sa'Real Greenwalt, Alex, Isai, Angelo and Isabella Juarez all of Grand Island, Lakyn McKay of Crosby, TX, Bryan Edwardson of Grand Island, and Liberty Easley of HI; brothers: Robert (Sally) and Louie "WeeGee" both ofGrand Island; sisters: Theresa Palasios of Grand Island, Josie Scott (Roger) of Grand Island, Sylvia Snachez (Joel) of Hershey, NE; sisters-in-law: Tonie Young of Safity Harbor, FL, Pam Countryman of Houston, TX, Ladonna Wieczbrek, Lanette Niedfelt, and Robin Tesmer (Kenny) all of Grand Island, and a sister-in-law Ramona (Moreno) Melgoza.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents: Ralph and Julia Melgoza; mother and father-in-law: Fred and Mae Schamp; step parents-in-law: Ron and Verla Owings; brother: Pee Wee (Carmel); sister: Polly Puente; nephew: Scotty Puente; daughter Traci Bridger-Wolanski and grandson L.B.

Mass of Christian  Burial will be 10:30 AM Friday, October 31, 2014 at St. Mary's Cathedral. Burial will follow with military honors at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 PM at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with Rosary at 7 PM.