William John "Bill" Tema

William John Tema (Bill) graduated into the arms of His Savior on Monday, December 29, 2025, peacefully in his bed at Beacon Pointe. Bill was born on June 23,1937 in Manitoba, Mississippi to a cheese factory manager and his wife, an immigrant from Finland. He would become the middle child (Michael, Martha). Because of his father’s work, they moved from the south up through the midwest, finally settling down in Minneapolis, Minnesota when Bill was a teenager.

Bill would eventually graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s Degree in Library Science. After driving to the Rose Bowl with friends in 1961 to support his Golden Gophers, he left Pasadena, California telling his friends, “Having worn shorts and a t-shirt on January 1, I am going to move here as fast as I can.” Sure enough, after landing his first job in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, meeting the woman he would marry (Janet) in 1962, he moved them to Pasadena, California where he would work at the Pasadena Public Library. He would eventually leave there to manage two libraries: Hastings Branch (3 years) and the Altadena Public Library (27 years). In 1979, he supplemented his income by doing Real Estate part time, where he would do this on the side until 2020, working in the building next door to his son’s father-in-law’s insurance agency in downtown Pasadena.

Bill and Janet would have two kids, one passing away as a baby (Debbie), and then having Bryan. Bill would have to navigate some complicated challenges which would eventually have their son not living with them for six years, but finding a loving home of distant relatives to take him in. Six years later, Bill got Bryan back under their roof. A priority for Bill was taking the family on yearly vacations, driving across the country and staying at KOAs along the way in their pop-up tent trailer. One vacation had them drive 9,000 miles in 2 weeks, but they saw they got to practically circle the entire country.

Bill saw service as a high priority. He would serve with the Kiwanis for 55 years, and always, with his wife Janet, plugged into serving at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, where he taught his son the value of not just going to church, but being the church, a value that would leave an indelible mark on his son. Bill also coached his son’s sports up to the high school level, driving his 1963 Chevy Nova, known as the ‘Coca Cola Mobile’ to all of the practices for years, becoming a staple in the community landscape. This car would become his son’s for a time, the car he drove when dating his future wife, Tammy. This car he would eventually give to his grandson, Josh.

When his son, Bryan, was called into ministry in 1997, Bill and Janet were their greatest supporters, even when it meant Bryan moving the kids (Joshua, Cassandra) away to Texas to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. The family lived in Texas for 17 years before taking a church in Richland, Michigan (gracespring Bible Church) 11 years ago. To keep a great relationship with the grandkids being so far away for so many years, Bill and Janet prioritized taking a large trip together every other year to foster these relationships, taking the entire family to places like Hawaii and Mexico and the Caribbean.

Due to serious health concerns, Bill developing stage 4 prostate cancer, and the house in Pasadena becoming too much to handle, Bill and Janet agreed to move to Michigan in 2020 to spend their final years being close to the family. Janet would eventually pass away on March 12, 2023, and Bill would settle down at Beacon Pointe where he was cared for so well!

Those who knew Bill could not say enough good things about him. He had an infectious smile and treated everyone with dignity and respect. His family will never forget his competitive spirit and love for any Minnesota team franchise. His final days involved much smiling and apparent agreement, though he could not hear well due to his temporary service in the US Army over a howitzer crew without ear protection just prior to college. Bill had the most generous heart, seeing needs and helping meet those needs in ways not many would consider.

Bill is preceded in death by his father Michael and mother Pearl, daughter (1964) and wife (2023). Bill is survived by his son, Bryan (Tammy in Augusta, MI), his grandson Josh (Mikayla in Richland, MI) and granddaughter Cassandra (Aaron in Fort Wayne, IN) along with their grandkids Sadie Grace, Eden Rebecca (Josh and Mikayla), and Elijah Paul (Aaron and Cassandra). Bill is also survived by his brother, Michael, and sister Martha (Chuck in Maple Grove, MN).

A memorial service will be planned at gracespring Bible Church on Friday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. Bill would want any gifts to benefit ministry endeavors at gracespring Bible Church in Richland, Michigan (8643 Gull Road. Richland, MI 49083). Personal messages for Bill’s family may be shared at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.