William “Will” Ray Bright

William “Will” Ray Bright, 69, of Tomahawk, and a former Rhinelander resident, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Country Terrace in Tomahawk.

Will was born in Sault St. Marie, Mich., on November 14, 1955, to Stanley and Kathryn (LaMothe) Bright. He attended schools in Sault St. Marie and was a 1974 graduate of Sault St. Marie High School. After graduating, Will began working for his father at the family’s music store. This led to his love for music for the rest of his life. He worked for his father for 10 years and then he moved to Sturgeon Bay, where he taught music and played with the group Rising Sun, and later with Dessert Skies, he and Sherry later played as a two-piece band called Renaissance, playing at various locations in the Northwoods. Will was united in marriage to Sherry Bushey in 1981. The couple lived in Sturgeon Bay until 1987 when they moved to Tripoli. Will moved to Rhinelander in 2012. Will enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping.

He is survived by his best friend, of forty-five years, Sherry Bright of Tripoli, sister, Kathryn (Paul) Hunyady, of Florida, brothers, Stanley (Mona) Bright of Florida and Ernie Bright, of Michigan, and a brother-in-law, Jimmy Clow of Michigan. Will is further survived by and will be dearly missed by the Bushey family and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Debbie Clow, brother, Ernest Wright, and sister-in-law, Judy Bright.

Will didn’t want a funeral. He loved music and getting together with friends for jam sessions. A celebration jam session will take place at the Lynn Town Hall, located at 5102 Willow Road, Tripoli, in the Willow Region on Saturday, May 17, from noon until 4 p.m. This will be a fun get-together with an open mic acoustic jam session. Nothing would put a smile on Will’s face more than seeing people getting together to play music and enjoy the day remembering him.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home and Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to sign the online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com.