Bill William Arthur Thorman

Bill Thorman, 85, a local character of Warren, MN, went to follow his ancestors into eternity on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in North Star Manor.

Before all else, Bill was a storyteller. He traveled far and saw a lot in his days. He had a heart of gold and a silver tongue: some of the stories may not be exactly factual, but everything is nevertheless “true.”
 

William Arthur Thorman was born on April 17, 1941, in Macomb County, MI, the oldest of seven children born to Harvey and Alice (Cornell) Thorman. He was raised on Potawatomi tribal land, near Hannahville, in the Upper Penninsula, and was always “at home” there. Bill had a connection with animals from a young age, being able to pick up most any wild animal and bring it home with him. From raising fawns and squirrels, to bringing a full-grown wolverine into his bedroom, Bill was a handful for his parents but always had the best intentions. He received his tribal name, “Little White Wolf,” from the chief for being the only person who could get near them unharmed.

The family eventually left the woods and moved to Romeo, MI. There, Bill began his career in trucking, starting at the age of 14 (without a license). He drove truck all across the country and worked for 20 years with a company hired to do the Florida transportation for NASA. Bill was married to Laurabell Haight in 1979, and the family made their home in Lawrenceburg, TN, while he was on the road. He helped raise her boys and they had two girls of their own. After Laurabell's passing in 2001, Bill moved around a bit, was swindled out of his savings and retirement, and eventually landed in Warren, MN. He retired from trucking in 2014, after putting on about 8 million miles; enough to go to the moon and back 15 times.

A “fixture” in Warren while it was his home, Bill lived in the Landmark and eventually moved into North Star Manor, as the most able-bodied resident. He had ambitions of living to 105, the same age as his grandfather, and was often seen sitting outside the nursing home, a cigarette on his lips, a cowboy hat with a large eagle father on his head, and a wave for all who passed by.

We will see you on the other side, Bill!

Though he had dreams of being buried on Tribal Land in Michigan, he will be laid to rest in Warren, his second home.


VISITATION: Monday, July 20, 2026, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, in North Star Assisted Living Chapel, Warren, MN, with a Closing Prayer at 11:00 AM.
INTERMENT: Greenwood Cemetery of Warren, MN.