William “Bill” H. Howe, a third-generation publisher and editor the (Prairie du Chien) Courier Press, was born April 6, 1923, the son of Lyman J. and Eliese B. Howe. He served his country during WWII as a member of the U.S. Navy before joining the family business in 1946. From typesetting and delivering newspapers to selling advertising, operating the press and serving as editor, Bill wore many hats during his career. Above all else, he was known for his dedication to the newspaper and community, which made him a trusted confidant of local mayors and public officials.
He and his brother, Lyman “Jack” Howe, led the Courier until retiring in 1997. In 2018, Bill was inducted into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame. After 108 years of publishing under the Howe family name, Bill’s son Gary sold the newspaper in 2019 to Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin.
During his career, Bill also co-owned The Guttenberg (Iowa) Press and North Iowa Times in McGregor, Iowa.
Bill died on July 22, 2022, at the age of 99. He was survived by his wife of 30 years, Donna; sons, Gary, Keith and Dean; daughter, Rita; and stepsons, Jim and John.
