Lantern Lit on 1/6/14-1/12/14 for William Saari

Five days after police were summoned to the scene of an apparent homicide in the city of Ashland, Ashland police have released some details about the incident that lead to the death of 52-year old William J. Saari.

They provided some chilling details about the death, which they said was the result of multiple stabbing and gunshot wounds at the hands of a 14-year-old male juvenile Saari and his wife, Carolyn Saari, were caring for on behalf of relatives. The suspect was not identified because of his age.
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William "Bill" Saari, 52, of Ashland, passed away, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1961, in Superior, the son of Roger and Dorothy Switzer.

Bill graduated from Superior Sr. High School in 1979. He continued his schooling at Medford Technical School where he received certificates in technical writing and as a draftsman. Bill worked for Clyde Iron in Superior for a few years.

Bill married Carol Shinaway on July 14, 1994, in Bad River. The couple resided in Ashland where Bill worked as a tech publications team leader for C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc. for 26 years.

Bill was a fun-loving and caring man with a wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. He enjoyed playing softball for over 20 years for the Ashland Softball League and was active in the dart and bowling leagues too. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also liked music (Bob Seeger was his favorite) and dancing and loved his dogs, Cuervo and Patron. Bill also embraced the Native American traditions, which became an important part of his life. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Ashland; father, Roger Switzer of Moose Lake, Minn.; six siblings, Kathy Berndt of Springbrook, Marilyn "Mary" (Roger) Paske of Spooner, Randy (Betty) Berndt of Superior, Sue Hansen of Rib Lake, Scott (Nancy) Berndt of Andover, Minn. and Dennis "Mike" (Sandy) Saari of Springbrook; and numerous nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Boswell; and maternal grandparents, Louis and Regina Whitman.

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