William J. Dewey, 88, entered into his eternal rest on March 8, 2016 at Viewcrest Health Center. Bill was born on January 3, 1928 in Duluth, MN and was a lifelong resident of Duluth. He graduated from Central High School in 1946. Upon completion of his service in the Army Air Corp he returned to Duluth. He married the love of his life, Marilyn, on October 28, 1949. Among his places of employment he worked for the Art Massie Company where he delivered dairy products to retail stores. He was known all over town as Barnum Bill. He retired in 1980 and worked part - time maintaining rental properties until his final retirement. Bill was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church where he served in many capacities, among them on the Deacon Board, Youth ministry and in the choir. He also ministered at the Union Gospel Mission. He was a member of the Arrowhead Roller Skating Club, and sang with the Harbormasters Barbershop Quartet where he also served on their board.   Bill is the last of twelve children. He is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn in 1997; parents, Deforest and Lena Dewey; brothers, Chester, Harold, Glenn, Raymond, and Richard Dewey; sisters, Helen Spink, Florence Running, Esther Baker, Ruth Spanarella, Naomi Doty and Betty Siim. Bill is survived by daughters, Lynette (Mark) Olson of Urbana, IL and Ruth Cpin of Duluth, MN; sons, Jeffrey (Arlene) Solum of Maplewood, MN, Mark (Donna) of Indianola, IA; Philip (Cheryl) of Indianola, IA, and Glenn (Lori) of Bristow, VA; 13 grandchildren, Matthew Olson, Alana Muir, Shawn Solum, Peter Cpin, Mark Cpin, Andrew Cpin, ReaAnne Dewey, Erin Grove, Nathan Dewey, Seth Dewey, Miles Dewey, Corinne Dewey, Andrew Keesling; 10 great grandchildren, Zachary, Marissa, Nathaniel, Clara, Logan, Cayden, Holly, Hannah, Chase, Jaina, and Paisley. A celebration of life service will be on Friday, March 11, 2016, at 2:00 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Visitation will be from noon - 2:00 PM at the church. A special thank you to Viewcrest for their loving care of Bill. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Youth for Christ Encounter.