In Memory Of
Bill Astor
1946
2023
Bill Astor
February 10, 1946 — June 2, 2023
It is with great sorrow and pain that we share that William "Bill" Astor (77 years) went to be with the Lord on June 2nd, 2023 at 1:12 PM. With great courage, strength and he fought the good fight and finished his race here on Earth (2 Timothy 4:7).
There is so much to share, but for now we will try to be brief.
Bill was born on February 10, 1946, in Oelwein, Iowa. He spent his first nine years on the Pineridge Reservation. He moved to the Quad Cities, Iowa and was placed in the Annie Wittenmyer Orphanage where he continued to live until his graduation from Central High School in 1964.
Following graduation, Bill enlisted in the service and served four years in the Air Force and served three tours in Vietnam. When he completed his four year enlistment with the Air Force, he joined the Army and initially was attached to the Special Forces Unit (5th Battalion, 19th Group) at Buckley Space Force Base. He served with his team in Korea, Panama, Thailand, and Afghanistan (just to name a few). He was also assigned to the Special Operations Command in Washington. After nearly 29 years of service, he resigned his commission in 1993 as Major William Astor.
Bill met Nancy, the love of his life and the sister of his then commanding officer, on February 10th, 1973, while training at Buckley. After nine years of friendship and dating, Bill and Nancy were married on April 18th, 1981.
Bill and Nancy built a home in Thornton, Colorado, and adopted three children: Mikala, Alysa and Adam. Over the course of thirteen years, they opened their home to foster sons and two families over the course of five years. Many of them continued to return home with their wives and children.
In a word, Bill was a voracious reader and loved learning. His inquisitiveness and keen intellect drove all his pursuits. His passion was history, gardening, current events and travel. Bill was driven; he wanted to understand the intricacies of everything.
As a result of his desire to learn, he began his teaching career teaching History and Math at Bennett High School (Bennett, Colorado). After nine years, he accepted a position at Northglenn High School teaching History, Economics and Psychology. He coached Gymnastics, Wrestling, Baseball, Basketball and Football. His students enjoyed not only his example of leadership, but also the stories he shared. When asked, "Hey, Mr. A! How do you know all of this?" His response was simple, "I lived it." To this day, it was never a surprise to be greeted by his former students thanking him for who they had become because of his high expectations and complete belief in them both in the classroom and on the field. After twenty-two years of teaching, Bill retired and began to enjoy his love of life, gardening, and most of all his dedication to his family.
Whatever he did, he was all in! He started his journey with roses and finished it with a spectacular and colorful piece of land filled with trees, roses, herbs, flowers and so much more. He took up the skill as a carpenter and finished it with building decks, greenhouses, playground equipment, gazebos and more.
In Bill's free time, you would find him volunteering and serving at his church, coaching and refereeing high school wrestling, gymnastics, basketball and football.
Bill's spiritual journey began when he returned from his first tour in Vietnam. While visiting his cottage parents in San Jose, California, Jerry and Judy Adams, they introduced Bill to George and Marge Harwood. George and Marge (Bill's Mom and Dad) not only welcomed him into their family, but introduced him to the Lord. For more than 60 years, Mom and Dad and their daughters, Kathy, Nancy and Janet have referred to Bill as their brother.
He was a principled man of integrity always in search of the truth. In his final years, he deeply grew in his faith.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy (Litsey) Astor, Mikala Kathryn Thormsgaard (Gary), Alysa Laurie Virginia Astor and Elijah Adam Astor (Elizabeth). He is also survived by nine grandchildren, many foster children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
We will be holding two separate ceremonies:
Military Honors
Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area A at 9:00 AM, Friday, June 30th, 2023
Celebration of Life
Calvary Church of Aurora, 18900 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora, Colorado on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 11:00 AM.
For now, Pop, Papi, Mr. Bill and My Love – our lives were so full of love, laughter, and adventure. Although our hearts now have a huge hole, we know you are asleep. We have confidence that we will join and see you again.
There is so much to share, but for now we will try to be brief.
Bill was born on February 10, 1946, in Oelwein, Iowa. He spent his first nine years on the Pineridge Reservation. He moved to the Quad Cities, Iowa and was placed in the Annie Wittenmyer Orphanage where he continued to live until his graduation from Central High School in 1964.
Following graduation, Bill enlisted in the service and served four years in the Air Force and served three tours in Vietnam. When he completed his four year enlistment with the Air Force, he joined the Army and initially was attached to the Special Forces Unit (5th Battalion, 19th Group) at Buckley Space Force Base. He served with his team in Korea, Panama, Thailand, and Afghanistan (just to name a few). He was also assigned to the Special Operations Command in Washington. After nearly 29 years of service, he resigned his commission in 1993 as Major William Astor.
Bill met Nancy, the love of his life and the sister of his then commanding officer, on February 10th, 1973, while training at Buckley. After nine years of friendship and dating, Bill and Nancy were married on April 18th, 1981.
Bill and Nancy built a home in Thornton, Colorado, and adopted three children: Mikala, Alysa and Adam. Over the course of thirteen years, they opened their home to foster sons and two families over the course of five years. Many of them continued to return home with their wives and children.
In a word, Bill was a voracious reader and loved learning. His inquisitiveness and keen intellect drove all his pursuits. His passion was history, gardening, current events and travel. Bill was driven; he wanted to understand the intricacies of everything.
As a result of his desire to learn, he began his teaching career teaching History and Math at Bennett High School (Bennett, Colorado). After nine years, he accepted a position at Northglenn High School teaching History, Economics and Psychology. He coached Gymnastics, Wrestling, Baseball, Basketball and Football. His students enjoyed not only his example of leadership, but also the stories he shared. When asked, "Hey, Mr. A! How do you know all of this?" His response was simple, "I lived it." To this day, it was never a surprise to be greeted by his former students thanking him for who they had become because of his high expectations and complete belief in them both in the classroom and on the field. After twenty-two years of teaching, Bill retired and began to enjoy his love of life, gardening, and most of all his dedication to his family.
Whatever he did, he was all in! He started his journey with roses and finished it with a spectacular and colorful piece of land filled with trees, roses, herbs, flowers and so much more. He took up the skill as a carpenter and finished it with building decks, greenhouses, playground equipment, gazebos and more.
In Bill's free time, you would find him volunteering and serving at his church, coaching and refereeing high school wrestling, gymnastics, basketball and football.
Bill's spiritual journey began when he returned from his first tour in Vietnam. While visiting his cottage parents in San Jose, California, Jerry and Judy Adams, they introduced Bill to George and Marge Harwood. George and Marge (Bill's Mom and Dad) not only welcomed him into their family, but introduced him to the Lord. For more than 60 years, Mom and Dad and their daughters, Kathy, Nancy and Janet have referred to Bill as their brother.
He was a principled man of integrity always in search of the truth. In his final years, he deeply grew in his faith.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy (Litsey) Astor, Mikala Kathryn Thormsgaard (Gary), Alysa Laurie Virginia Astor and Elijah Adam Astor (Elizabeth). He is also survived by nine grandchildren, many foster children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
We will be holding two separate ceremonies:
Military Honors
Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area A at 9:00 AM, Friday, June 30th, 2023
Celebration of Life
Calvary Church of Aurora, 18900 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora, Colorado on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 11:00 AM.
For now, Pop, Papi, Mr. Bill and My Love – our lives were so full of love, laughter, and adventure. Although our hearts now have a huge hole, we know you are asleep. We have confidence that we will join and see you again.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bill Astor, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
Calvary Church
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