KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Bill Hopkins, a longtime western Kenosha County public servant whose post-military life has included local government, fire service, youth sports and volunteer work, has been named the 2026 Kenosha County Veteran of the Year.
According to Kenosha County officials, Hopkins was selected by a county panel from a group of nominees submitted by members of the community. The award, which debuted in 2025, is presented annually to recognize veterans for their achievements and contributions after their military service.
Hopkins served 20 years in the Navy before retiring in 1993 as an E9 Command Master Chief. His assignments took him around the world, including four tours at Naval Station Great Lakes, which first brought him to Kenosha County.
After his military career, Hopkins worked 22 years before retiring as a senior compliance training manager at Abbott Laboratories and Hospira. He moved to Silver Lake in 1989 and became deeply involved in western Kenosha County, serving as president of the Riverview School Board, an elected trustee on the Silver Lake and Salem Lakes village boards, a member of the Community Library Board and several other boards and commissions.
Hopkins also spent 12 years as a volunteer member of the Silver Lake Fire Department and served with the Silver Lake Dive and Recovery Team as a diver. His community work has also extended to youth athletics, including coaching football at Wilmot Union High School, baseball with Lakeland Little League and youth soccer, softball and tee ball.
During the severe 2017 flooding along the Fox River, Hopkins and one of his sons spent several days helping area residents by handing out bottled water, cleaning supplies and decontaminating hundreds of wells.
“It’s just a matter of helping people,” Hopkins said in the county’s announcement. “I like working with people. I like working with kids, in particular. I like helping out when I can help. I look at it from that perspective.”
A county spokesperson said Hopkins stood out among a strong group of nominees because of his decades of public service and community involvement throughout western Kenosha County.
Kenosha County Veterans Services Director Jennifer Blasi also praised Hopkins’ long record of service.
“Mr. Hopkins’ life has wholeheartedly been dedicated to public service,” Blasi said. “It is a rare person who takes the time and effort to make such an impact among so many people and organizations. He is an inspiration.”
Hopkins was nominated by his son, Brian Hopkins, who wrote that his father “has a servant leader’s heart and is always putting his family and the community first.”
“My dad’s commitment to his fellow veterans and the community is evident in everything he does,” Brian Hopkins wrote. “As a role model and mentor, he is a trusted friend to veterans and a guiding influence for young adults considering military service, always offering support, wisdom, and encouragement.”
Hopkins and his wife, Susie, have four adult children, Billy, Emily, Danny and Brian. They also have four grandchildren and two more on the way.
Hopkins, who has longstanding relationships with several prominent Kenosha County officials, including County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Sheriff David Zoerner, said his motivation to serve comes from lessons learned from his family and the military.
“I think for me, I learned a lot of the work ethic from my dad, and my family,” Hopkins said. “The military definitely brought the chain of command and integrity to the table, and then, lastly, I think it’s just a matter of putting your best foot forward and doing the best things you can to the best of your ability.”
The award is scheduled to be presented at the annual Veterans Appreciation Summer Picnic on May 29 at Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park.
Hopkins is also a current member of the Kenosha County Civil Service Commission and now serves as chairman of the Salem Lakes Fire Commission after Salem Lakes Village President Rita Bucur removed Ed Herreid as chairman and appointed Hopkins to the leadership post.
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