William Joseph Pintal

If you haven’t had the pleasure of being in the company of our dad please allow me to introduce you to him. William (Bill) Joseph Pintal was the first child of William A. and Anne M. Pintal, born in Detroit, June 22, 1934. Transplants as a result of the great depression, the young family soon returned to their beloved roots in the upper peninsula, where Bill wondered at the wilderness flora and fauna, a burgeoning student of Botany and agriculture. One of his first passionate pursuits was 4H membership and leadership, where he was awarded reserve Champion for his brown Swiss “Susie“ in 1955.

Bill had an innate affinity for teaching that eventually brought him to Michigan State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education/Biology. He started his career teaching at St. Joseph High School in Escanaba.  He enlisted in the army and served in Korea from 1957 to 1958, where he fell in love with the Korean people and their culture. While overseas, he volunteered to teach English as a second language and forged many lifetime friendships .

He returned to MSU and completed a Master’s of Science in Botany, and transitioned to teaching at Mary Grove College, Schoolcraft College, and the University of Detroit. There, he was introduced to his lifelong love, Brenda Bartski. They married after a short courtship, and soon welcomed daughters Kristin, Monique, and Kelly, amidst their busy teaching and nursing careers.

Still not yet settled in his adventurous endeavors, Bill convinced Brenda to relocate their young family to Chicago to allow him to pursue a medical education. He started this journey at the Chicago College of Osteopathy, where he found his ultimate calling of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a specialized practice using a holistic approach with manipulation techniques. His massive hands became healing instruments for treating additional health problems in both humans and animals. OMM was his greatest legacy, and he was known for his extensive knowledge in his healing therapies. From mothers in labor to crippled animals on his family farm, he devoted his life to alleviate suffering.

His amazing spirituality motivated every facet of his daily life. He lived the love of our Lord in all his interactions; with his children, students, neighbors, colleagues at the hospital, patients and strangers, alike. Cofounding the spirituality in Medicine course at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was one of his greatest loves and forged his most meaningful lifetime friendships. Bills deep belief in the sanctity of all life was woven in every encounter. He modeled the connectedness of body and spirit.  When in his presence you felt his respect, and many sought his counsel.

Bill loved classic country music and would frequently sing verses of old Johnny Cash or Patsy Cline songs to his daughters and granddaughters. His life spark was most illuminated while calling a country Square dance or catching one of his daughters up in a waltz at a family wedding. On his last earthly day, he sang with his girls at his side.

His quiet calm masked a powerful, adventurous, and rebellious streak. He relished respectful resistance of the status quo when it didn’t align with his sense of right, and always sang to his own tune, regardless of what the world was listening to. He delighted in regaling his family with a colorful story about a remembered adventure and loved to make his children or grandchildren squirm with gross stories.

Bill’s lifetime passion for learning, reading and expanding his mind was an integral facet of his example to students and his own children. His day began with scripture and he was always enthused with his latest reading endeavors. He adored Brenda’s Hershey’s chocolate cake and lime Jell-O, but kimchi and bulgoki made his heart skip a beat. Bill was an avid gun collector and loved old tractors. Bill continued to counsel and collaborate with daughters and students even while journeying through the loss of his wife and his physical frailties.  

He physically left us on November 24, 2020 to reunite with his wife, Brenda and youngest daughter, Kelly, brother, Bob, his mother and father, his beloved beagle, Missy, and German Shepherd, Kimchi. He is mourned by his daughters, Kristin Carlson and Monique (Scott) Carpenter, granddaughters, Erica (Jesse) Williams, Jaclyn Allen, Nikola Carlson, Allica (Jared) Beckwith, Morghan (Jay) Rustenholtz, Brindlea Peterson, Kadyn Reisterer, great-grandchildren, Nella, Cora, Evelyn, Bentley, and a lifetime of beloved students and dear friends.

A private funeral service will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Lansing. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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