Obituary of William Richard Hart

William Richard "Bill" Hart, age 82, of Bloomington, MN, died peacefully on April 3, 2020. He was preceded in death by parents, Elwin and Elinor Hart, and sister, Mary (Jackson) Day. He is survived by wife of 55 years, Susan; daughters Lizanne Hart (Douglas) and Cathy Hart (Lucas); grandchildren Madeline, Emmett and Samuel; sister Virginia Clark and brother John Hart; and many nieces and nephews. Bill grew up in south Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota, obtaining a degree in business. He worked in retail merchandising for more than 30 years, starting as a stock person and retiring as a senior executive from Dayton Hudson Corporation. Bill was well known and highly regarded in his industry, not only for his expertise but also for his mentoring and support of many colleagues, and a depth of relationships that spanned the globe. While he achieved great career success, there was nothing more important to Bill than his family and friends. The oldest of four children, he was a strong and unwavering support to his parents, siblings, and extended family. He was a loving husband, doting father, and delighted grandfather, and a steadfast friend to so many. Known for his quick wit, thirst for knowledge, and quiet philosophizing, Bill was always a wonderful dinner companion or bridge partner. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, he loved his time with his dogs and at the family cabin as much as he loved to travel and explore other parts of the world. He was kind, loyal, thoughtful, encouraging, and rooted in integrity. A celebration of his life will be held later in the year. Memorial gifts can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Conservation Minnesota.