William Arthur Darker

William Arthur Darker III, 47, San Diego, CA, died peacefully May 18, 2010 in San Diego with his family and many friends at his side, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Bill was born on July 4, 1962 in Superior, WI, the son of William and Joyce Darker.

Bill attended elementary school in Lakeside, graduating from Northwestern High School in Maple, WI in 1980 along with his close friends who remained in Bill’s life until the end.

After graduation from high school, Bill went to Syracuse University in New York and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Bill worked as a legislative and policy analyst in Washington, DC and as a technical writer at leading biotech and medical device companies in San Diego.

In 2005, Bill was diagnosed with ocular melanoma, a rare form of cancer and left corporate America to fight his disease and earn certification as a massage therapist at the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego, and started his own massage practice.

Bill was told the cancer had metastasized to his liver in 2007 and was given five to seven months to live. Bill never accepted that prognosis and sought doctors and treatments across the country.

Bill was a pioneer in clinical trials for treatments and in 2009 was featured in an Associated Press article that was published around the world and appeared on television.
Bill loved music, art, cooking and gardening and always surrounded himself with many pets. Bill had diverse interests from politics to sports.

He was proud to identify himself as a lifelong Democrat and Green Bay Packer fan. Bill enjoyed traveling with his spouse Ben, family and friends and had explored most of the United States, the Hawaiian Islands, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, China and the Caribbean.

Bill loved people and cultivated and maintained lifelong friendships.

Bill is survived by his loving spouse Ben Calmes, Imperial Beach, CA; his mother Joyce Darker, South Range, WI and his sister Kimberly (David) Pioro, South Range, WI.

The family would like to express its gratitude to the staff of San Diego Hospice for their dedicated and compassionate care in his last days.

Visitation will begin at 12 noon until the 1:00 PM Memorial Service on Saturday, June 12, 2010 in the Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Ave., Superior, with Pastor Patrick Ziems of Zion Lutheran Church, officiating.

There will be a reception at Rapids Riverside at 3:00 PM.

Should you like to send a condolence or sign the on-line guest book, visit our website at www.downs-lesage@charter.net.