Of Sanborn, NY, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2017, at his home under the care of his family and Niagara Hospice. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY, on April 27, 1949, the son of the late William F. and Mary Mayernick Sterner. 

A 1967 graduate of Grand Island High School and the Harkness Center for heating and air conditioning, Bill served active duty with the US Army during the Vietnam Era.  
Bill was an avid sailor and member of Tuscarora Yacht Club.  He served on the Board for the Sanborn Historical Society, was a member of the Greater Niagara American Legion Riders Post #1451, and enjoyed restoring vintage British cars.  
Bill rode his motorcycle on 26 missions with the Patriot Guard and in the 911 Memorial Ride to the three crash sites:  Shanksville, PA, the Pentagon, and finally arriving at the World Trade Center in NYC.  He participated in the Build Brigade Building Homes for Veterans.  He was employed as a manager at Flanigan Chevrolet in North Tonawanda and at Mike Basil Chevrolet in Hamburg.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deidra (Petrakis) Sterner; two daughters Elena (Jung Lee) Sterner and Ana (Erol) Bars; four grandsons Thomas and Sean Bars, William and James Lee; two brothers Robert (Pam) Sterner, Kenneth (Sandy) Sterner; two sisters Mary Jean (Gary) Arquisola, Beverly (Robert) House, a brother in law Tim Vanderbles, also many nieces and nephews. Bill was the brother of the  late Marilyn (Gary) Glessner Welsh and  Paulette Vanderbles.

The family will be present on Thursday, from 4-7 PM at RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 5893 Hoover Road, SANBORN, NY. Funeral services will be held on Friday, 10:30 AM at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, Niagara Falls, NY with Rev. Paul Solberg officiating.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made in his name to St. George's Church.
Please join the Patriot Guard Processional to the church departing Friday at 9:45 AM from the Funeral Home. 

Interment with military honors will be at Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston, NY.
Special thank you to Kristine Barraclough, Niagara Hospice Caregiver.
 

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