FELDHACKER, William H. (Bill)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, April 27, 2013 William H. Feldhacker, a renowned and highly respected criminal trial attorney, passed away Friday, April 12, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz., surrounded by his loving family. Bill was 70. Born on March 25, 1943, in Onawa, Iowa, to Joe and Vivian Feldhacker, Bill moved to Tucson with his family at the age of 6, and eventually graduated from Catalina High School, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University College of Law in 1971. After three years working as a deputy prosecuting attorney and as the organized crime prosecutor for Maricopa County in Phoenix, he went into private practice as Martin & Feldhacker, focusing on criminal defense cases. After eight years, Bill moved his family to Kauai, Hawaii, passed the bar and went into private practice from 1982 through 1996, including working a successful campaign to elect a new prosecuting attorney, then joining him in the Prosecutors Office as Chief Deputy, 1996 to 1998, and later in private practice. He continued his 42-year law career from Hawaii to Tucson and Prescott, Ariz., and became a faculty member of the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, S.C., teaching and training Prosecuting Attorneys from all over the U.S. Both professionally and personally, Bill's reputation preceded him. Highly respected as an attorney, it was in Bill's character where you got to know how special he was. Bill was a proud man, honorable and selfless; he was "one of the good guys." He was tenacious in his work and adventurous in his leisure. He loved the outdoors, boating, water and snow skiing, fishing, shooting, working on cars and the Disney character "Goofy." As an example of not taking life too seriously, he was "Grandpa Goofy." Bill could build a house or a car on the weekend and then be in trial on Monday. Most of all he loved his family. He spent his life helping others and carried his courage to the end. He is survived by his loving wife, Stephenie Anderson of Tucson; his son Scott, daughter-in-law Heather and three grandchildren Sienna, Sonnet and Stryker of Scottsdale; sisters Jolene and Linda of Onawa, Iowa, and nieces Kellie Witt and Laura Turk of Phoenix. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, B.J. Bill was the "rock" of the family. He was always dependable, kind and generous. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and will be incredibly missed. Please join the family for an island-casual Celebration of Life 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2013, at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Indian Bend and Scottsdale Road. Information provided by survivors.