William Ney, Jr

William Bill O. Ney Jr, age 98, of Rochester, formerly of Mahtomedi, died on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at Meadow Lakes Senior Living in Rochester. Memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2015, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes with Chaplain Lincoln Engelbert officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. William Oscar Ney was born on May 20, 1917, in Michigan City, MS, to William and Minnie (Sweeney) Ney Sr. He graduated from Columbia High, South Carolina in 1934, attended University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee receiving a B.S. in Chemistry and University of Texas Austin receiving his Ph.D in Chemistry. Bill pioneered the development of polymer materials used in weaponry prior to and during WWII. He held multiple patents in the field of chemistry and used his years of experience in the field to serve as a patent liaison during his lengthy career at 3M. On May 19, 1956, hemarried Jane E. Brower in Ponca City, OK. Bill and Jane raised three daughters at their homestead in Mahtomedi. He formally retired in 1983 however continued to work at 3M until the age of 78. Bill participated in Lions Club, Boy Scout Troop #15, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, University Band and Choirs, Texas Longhorn Band, and the Mahtomedi school board. He enjoyed traveling and has been to all 50 states with his wife, and they spent their winters in Arizona. He also enjoyed carving intricate wooden birds, bird watching, hiking and singing. Bill is survived by his wife, Jane of Rochester; daughters, Katherine (Mark Hufstedler) Ney of Rochester, Christine (Joe Schwarzenberger) Bruce of Lake Orion, MI and Polly (Scott) Fisher of Farmington; grandchildren, William, Katrina and Natalie; step-grandchildren, Adrienne, John and Lisa; and great-grandchildren, Phoebe, Jade, Skyler and Aubri. Bill is preceded in death by his sisters, Cathryn Larsen and Helen Ney. Memorials are preferred to Alzheimer's Association or to the Humane Society. www.ranfranzandvinefh.com