June 21, 1943 – April 10, 2026
William Hector Migneault, age 82, passed away at his home in San Jose on April 10. Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Hanna, and 3 children, Matthew (Robyn) Migneault, Lisa (Robert) Kurokawa, and Karen (Matt Niksch) Migneault. Bill was predeceased by his son Bill, Jr., age 51. Bill was the oldest sibling with 6 sisters, 11 grandchildren, and 1 great- grandchild.
Bill had the formidable character of most children growing up as the oldest son of an United States Marine Corps Officer. After attending 13 different schools in his youth (it is a common occurrence that Marine Corps families move frequently due to duty station changes), he learned to improvise, adapt, and overcome obstacles. “We military kids bear the scars of separation but this made us tough.” These qualities plus his love of math lead him to an education and a successful career as an engineer. He studied at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Oregon State University and an MBA degree from Golden Gate University in 1984.
He worked as an engineer for Bechtel, Mitsubishi Chemical, Kaiser Cement and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. His projects included the Alaska Pipeline, Bay Area Rapid Transit, pulp and paper mill companies, and the largest cement manufacturing facility in Asia. Bill enjoyed fishing and was an entrepreneur. In the early 1960s, he purchased a 27-foot boat and was a commercial fisherman from Newport, Oregon, until Bill Jr. was born and realized that this was not sustainable with a new family.
Bill believed in the Biblical principle that “if you don’t work, you don’t eat” and added real estate to his engineering career, which included the labor of his entire family. He proudly employed 25 people in his real estate businesses. Many of those employees had otherwise difficulty finding work. He delegated to them all decisions, management of money and property, and dealing with customers.
Bill led a deliberate life by taking his direction from the Bible. He believed that the servant is required to multiply his talents: “I invest myself and my money to multiply itself.” He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and gave drink to the thirsty. His service to his community included funding charitable services in Ecuador and Romania, teaching the special education program at Bridges Community Church, co-leading Boy’s Brigade, creating and running an afterschool tutoring and basketball program, and providing employment to the unemployable. He served as the Sierra Road Water District President and was a Toastmaster’s International Distinguished Speaker for 21 years. He entertained strangers by hosting many dinners over the years in his home with his wife, Hanna. He once wrote that “I have a responsibility to live my values in front of others, to tell others about Christ. Everyone who knows me understands this.”
As we grapple with the weight of our individual and collective grief, let us reflect upon Bill’s strength of character and profound, unselfish belief in his faith and mission. May his soul rest in eternal peace as he reunites with his son Billy, his parents Hector and Irene, and his grandparents.
A celebration of his life will be at Bridges Community Church in Los Altos on May 23rd at 11am.
