William "Bill" B. Bode

William (Bill) Brayton Bode passed on Monday, May 11, 2026. After a year-long battle with cancer and despite many setbacks, Bill’s determination to survive and positivity about the future never wavered. At the end, he was at his home on Taylor Lake where he wanted to be, surrounded by the beautiful home that he and Jeannie created with their own hands. Bill was surrounded by family and friends and was deeply aware of just how truly loved and appreciated he was, is, and always will be. 

Somehow Bill had a knack for being the life of the party and the most serious person in the room, sometimes even at the same time. He was compassionate, hard working, deeply responsible and equally silly. His love for his family and friends was unrivaled. And maybe his love for vintage cars, too. 

Bill grew up in Brown Deer, Wisconsin and attended Brown Deer High School. He was an academic success, a key player on the basketball team, and led the marching band as drum major. Those trumpet skills carried throughout his lifetime, where he serenaded his favorite people each year, as he stumbled his way through some rendition of happy birthday. 

For his undergraduate and masters degrees, Bill attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where, under the leadership of Professor James Graaskamp, he began his journey towards a career in real estate development.  

Brayton Management Company was built on the hard work, creative problem solving, and an unyielding determination to succeed. Bill used his skills in urban planning, building restoration, and architecture to improve and support communities. His projects continue to provide people with opportunities for housing and places for the local community to gather and thrive. Bill impacted many communities throughout his career, particularly in Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Hartford, Menomonee Falls, and Waupaca. 

Leadership was a strength of Bill’s, where his compassion and belief in the power of hard work truly shone through. Beginning in the 1990s, Bill supported the Sisters at St. Anne’s Salvadoran Campus, where he helped execute projects to provide assisted living and memory care to Milwaukee’s elderly communities. Bill was a proud member of first the Wauwatosa Rotary Club, where he was president from 2001-2002, and then joined the Waupaca Rotary Club when he moved there in 2024.

Bill’s love for cars went far beyond a hobby. His detailed knowledge was just the tip of the iceberg that demonstrated what these cars meant to him. As a board member of the Jaguar Club of Wisconsin and a member of the Porsche Club, Bill loved to gather with fellow enthusiasts and always sought out opportunities to find the best kind of winding back roads for a drive.  

As Bill would so often do himself, his family encourages you all to go listen to live music, support local artists and businesses, eat good food, drink good drink, and take care to love, understand, and uplift one another. 

Bill is survived by his wife Jeanine Kes Bode, his daughter Haley (Noah) their children Jason and Harlow; his son Taylor (Stephanie) their children Remy and Shay; sisters Kathy, Lori (Dale), and brother Allen (Karen); nephews Ryan (Sara), Cale (Lynze), Thomas (Alyssa), Tyler (Ashly), and Brett (Allison); and many grand nieces and nephews; Jeannie’s daughter Gina (Brian) their children Madison and Hunter; her son Ryan (Kristie), their children Bexley, Jaxon, Eva and Judah; Jeannie’s siblings Connie, Sheri, John (Anita), Michelle, James (Jeannine), and Jeff (Brenda).

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to: Sisters of the Divine Savior, 4311 N 100th St, Milwaukee, WI 

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