William Donald "Bill" Elmer

William Donald "Bill" Elmer, of Nampa, Idaho, passed away at home on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at the age of 64. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter ‘Bud’ and Betty Elmer. Bill is survived by his wife, Margo Rae Elmer (Bennett), daughter Anni and her husband William Merrick of Windsor, Colorado and son Erik and his wife Jessica Elmer, of Nampa. Bill will also be fondly remembered by his eight grandchildren; Leisel, Madeline, William ‘Liam’, Lucy, Gillian, Emma, Rose and Augustus, as well as his sister Becky and her husband Bob Kruger of Grants Pass, Oregon, and brother Burt and his wife Suzanne Elmer of Plymouth, Minnesota.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bill attended Waukesha Adventist School and later, Mountain View Academy in Mountain View, California. He and Margo Rae met and were married in Mountain View. After moving to Tennessee and starting their family, they moved back to Mountain View, where they lived until 1980. The family lived in several states including Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, before settling in Idaho in 1988, where Bill worked for Pacific Press in Nampa. Bill worked as a lithographer for the Seventh Day Adventist Conference, at Review and Herald and Pacific Press for a total of 40 years.

Bill was a talented and accomplished musician and artist. He had the unusual gift of being able to play any instrument, but his favorites were mandolin, guitar, and old-time banjo. He was an integral part of the bluegrass scene in Boise for many years, starting the annual Idaho Bluegrass Appreciation Day. Bill was also the bluegrass historian on Folk Trails with Samantha Wright on KBSU. He was very passionate about bluegrass and was in several bands over the years, including Longmeadow Mining Company with Margo Rae, and Midnight Flyer, with Margo Rae and his son, Erik. He was a natural teacher, teaching both his son and grandson to play guitar and encouraging their interest in making music. Bill was an avid painter, and many of his paintings reflected his love of the American West.

Bill was a dedicated husband, a wonderful father, a well-loved grandfather and friend to many and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at the Kuna Seventh Day Adventist Church, 820 N. Linder Rd., Kuna. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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