Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

William Boettger[1]

Male 1941 - 2005  (64 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Boettger 
    Born 1941  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 2005 
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Name Bill Boettger 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-130138 
    Person ID I130138  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Earl Boettger,   b. 1915, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Lillian Matilda Heidrich,   b. 1915,   d. 13 Feb 1990, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Family ID F264984  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Bill Boettger was born and raised in Kitchener. After graduating from Kitchener Collegiate Institute, Boettger received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo, and a teacher's certificate from the University of Toronto. He was the Assistant Head of Mathematics at Eastwood Collegiate and taught mathematics there for 31 years. Boettger is known as Canada's most internationally decorated lawn bowler, and the first to bring home a gold medal. He began his involvement with bowling while working as a pin boy at a local bowling alley. Boettger was a member of the Ontario men's championship 5 Pin Bowling team, winning a silver medal at the Canadian championships. His skill as a bowler led to his winning a gold medal at the Canadian Masters singles title in 1974. In his final game in the pin boy league, he rolled a perfect game of 450 points.

      In addition to his skill as an athlete, Boettger wrote the lesson plans and curricula for 5 Pin Bowling, which is still being used today. He served various roles with the Master Bowlers Association of Ontario, including Treasurer and President. He was inducted into the Builders Division of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowler's Association in 1997.

      Boettger was a member of the Canadian Lawn Bowling team for eighteen years, representing Canada twenty-five times. He was a Canadian Champion and won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and silver and bronze medals at the world championships. In 1991, at the South Pacific Bowls, he was named top bowler of the competition as he brought home gold in the singles, pairs, and fours. Boettger was National Coach for Bowls for four years. In the world of lawn bowling, he was known to many as Captain Canada.

      Boettger paired up with Brian Williams at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton to provide the colour commentary for lawn bowling for the CBC.

      Boettger was instrumental in the creation and operation of the Heritage Lawn Bowling Facility and served as its treasurer from its inception. In 1999, he chaired the National Championships Hosting Committee. The National Championships in 2005 in Kitchener, and Woodstock were named in his honour.

      Boettger wrote several level one and two coaching manuals. He was a level three coach.

      Boettger is survived by his partner, Bev Bayus and a large extended family.


      Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

  • Sources 
    1. [S2403] News - Unidentified Newspaper Obituary, Obituary of Lillian Matilda Heidrich - Boettger.

    2. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1941 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth