Obituary: William “Bill the Breadman” Ekman

Longtime Siskiyou County resident William Robert Ekman, “Bill the Breadman”, left to be with the our Lord on July 30, 2025 in Yreka. He was 80 years old.

Bill loved life and everyone he came into contact with throughout his life. He was born in Winter, Wisconsin in 1944. He met the love of his life, Sandra Lee Barlow in 1961. A year later they were married and remained married for 62 years, loving each other to the end.

Bill was a delivery man for Williams Bakery for many years. After he retired from Williams, he realized that he missed interacting with the people of Siskiyou County, so he went to work at Ray’s Food Place in Weed and later Mount Shasta. He worked there until his illness overwhelmed him and he could no longer work.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Dorothy Ekman of McCloud, and his brother, Gordon Ekman of Klamath Falls, Oregon. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sandy; his siblings: Mary Lou (Larry) Lamphere of Klamath Falls, Jim (Dee) Ekman of Klamath Falls, Doris (Greg) MacDonald of Happy Camp, and Tom (Lindy) Ekman of Klamath Falls; his children: Janice (Perry) Fisher of Hornbrook, Lorinda (Terry) Scott of Pahrump, Nevada, and Bobby (Michelle) Ekman of Lake Shastina; grandchildren Jason (Vonda) Gardner of Perry, Oregon, Nicole (Joe) Ourjanian of Portola, Darin (Charlotte) Scott of Manchester, Maryland, Dillon (Shelby) Scott of Henderson, Nevada, Kaitlynne (William) Soule of Sacramento, and Morgan, Carson and Connor Ekman, all of Klamath Falls; and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all whom he loved very much.

His life will be celebrated at a later date. In memory of his favorite dog, Jubi, we are asking for donations to Essex Givens Fund through Essex Veterinary in lieu of flowers and cards.

Sourced: Girdner Funeral Chapel