Longtime Hennepin Avenue UMC member Bill Pilgram passed away on December 22, 2020, at 103 years of age. He was predeceased in 2017 by his beloved wife of 77 years, Caroline Lowe Pilgram.
Bill was a WWll veteran assigned to the Army Counter Intelligence Corps. After the war, he worked for many years as an insurance investigator for New York Life Insurance Co. While working full time and traveling on business, in his "spare" time he attended William Mitchell School of Law at night, and also remodeled and added on to his house. Bill was a man of many talents and he especially loved building and working with wood. Over the years, he created many beautiful pieces, refinished furniture that were family heirlooms, and made toys for his family.
He graduated from law school in 1951 and practiced law part-time while he continued working for the insurance company. He changed course in 1961 and became a close associate of the law firm of Drake and Drake in Minneapolis, working with his longtime friends Ben and Betty Drake. He practiced law until he retired at age 74.
Bill will be remembered for his unwavering love and devotion to his family and his friends, and for his love and devotion to his church. He was a member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church for over 81 years. He was always a dedicated member and served the church in many different capacities, but his heart was with the "Recyclers", a group that he worked with for over 30 years, applying his building and woodworking skills to church maintenance and remodeling projects.
Bill is survived by his daughter Karen Annoni (Tony), sons Roger (Martha) and Michael, his grandson Alex Annoni (Liz) and great-grandchildren Kyra, Alyssa, and Nicholas. Memorials may be sent to Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church Foundation.
If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing.
If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
1 Corinthians 12:16 (The MESSAGE)
