Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Hugh Jenner |
| Also Known As | Bill Jenner |
| Birth | February 7, 1923 |
| Birthplace | Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Death | December 28, 2000 |
| Place of Death | Carnelian Bay, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 77 |
| Nationality | Canadian-born American |
| Heritage | English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, and Welsh descent |
| Parents | Hugh Burton Jenner (father), Bertha M. Cunningham (mother) |
| Siblings | Harold Burton Jenner (brother), Betty E. Jenner (sister) |
| Spouse | Esther Ruth McGuire (m. 1946; d. 2023) |
| Children | Pamela Ruth Mettler, Lisa Diane Jenner, Burt Jenner (1950s–1976), Caitlyn Marie Jenner (b. 1949) |
| Grandchildren | Cassandra “Casey” Marino (b. 1980), Burt Jenner (b. 1978), Brandon Jenner (b. 1981), Brody Jenner (b. 1983), Kendall Jenner (b. 1995), Kylie Jenner (b. 1997) |
| Great-Grandchildren | Includes Francesca Marino (via Cassandra) |
| Occupation | Arborist, tree surgeon, landscaper |
| Military Service | U.S. Army, 5th Ranger Battalion, Technician Fourth Grade (1942–1945) |
| Notable Highlights | D-Day veteran (Omaha Beach, 1944); silver medalist, 100-yard dash, Army Olympics (1945) |
| Residences | New Brunswick (Canada); Connecticut; New York; California |
Early Years and Heritage (1923–1942)
William Hugh Jenner began life on February 7, 1923, in the port city of Saint John, New Brunswick. His childhood unfurled during the Depression—lean years that teach thrift and grit. He grew up under the steady guidance of parents Hugh and Bertha, alongside siblings Harold and Betty. The family’s ancestry—English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, and Welsh—was a braid of Old World lines woven into New World resolve.
By the late 1930s or early 1940s, the family’s footprint extended into the United States, setting the stage for a life that would be forever shaped by military service. The future arborist first learned to stand tall in the wind as a soldier.
Ranger on Omaha: World War II (1942–1945)
In 1942, Jenner enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained with the 5th Ranger Battalion. His rank—Technician Fourth Grade—placed him among the skilled hands supporting America’s fighting edge. On June 6, 1944, he came ashore at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion, one of the most harrowing days in modern history. It was a crucible of fire and surf, where survival hinged on seconds and inches.
By 1945 the guns quieted, and in the twilight of war he flashed his speed on the track, winning a silver medal in the 100-yard dash at the Army Olympics. The soldier who ran through gunfire now sprinted past finish lines. Soon after, he was discharged, bringing home an understated heroism that spoke through deeds rather than boasts.
Marriage, Home, and Loss (1946–1976)
On a postwar tide of hope, Jenner married Esther Ruth McGuire in 1946 in Stamford, Connecticut. Together they built a life that balanced work, family, and movement between the Northeast and, later, the West. Four children followed—Pamela, Lisa, Burt, and Caitlyn—each carving a path, some public, some private.
The family’s brightest athletic spotlight landed on Caitlyn (born October 28, 1949), whose Olympic gold in the decathlon in 1976 echoed her father’s blend of drive and discipline. That same year, however, the family’s arc bent into sorrow when son Burt died in a car accident on November 30, 1976, in Canton, Connecticut. Triumph and tragedy shared the calendar. The loss left a mark that time softened but never erased.
Work Among Trees: An Arborist’s Career
After the war, Jenner worked as an arborist and tree surgeon—a trade that demands strength, patience, and respect for living systems. He spent decades shaping canopies, safeguarding streets, and nursing trees back to health. It was quiet, exacting work that supported a household and mirrored his temperament: practical, steady, unassuming.
There are no public figures for net worth and no professional laurels gilding his résumé. Instead, his achievements are measured in seasons—projects finished, bills paid, children raised. The life he built was middle-class and modest, and therein lies its dignity.
From Mount Kisco to Carnelian Bay: Later Life (1977–2000)
Over the years, the Jenners lived in places like Mount Kisco, New York, before settling in California. Grandchildren arrived between 1978 and 1997—Burt, Cassandra, Brandon, Brody, Kendall, and Kylie—stretching the family tree across multiple branches of public and private lives. In the 1990s, the retired soldier and working arborist kept a low public profile while his descendants stepped into national prominence.
On December 28, 2000, Jenner died of cancer in Carnelian Bay, California, at age 77. He left behind Esther, who lived until 2023, and a sprawling family that continues to invoke his example of resilience and service.
Family Web: Children, Grandchildren, and Beyond
| Generation | Name | Birth Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Pamela Ruth Mettler | — | Kept a private life |
| Child | Lisa Diane Jenner | — | Close family ties, limited public info |
| Child | Burt Jenner | 1950s | Died Nov 30, 1976, car accident in Connecticut |
| Child | Caitlyn Marie Jenner | 1949 | Olympic gold medalist; transitioned in 2015 |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Burt Jenner | 1978 | Entrepreneur; named after late uncle |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Cassandra “Casey” Marino | 1980 | Private life; mother of Francesca |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Brandon Jenner | 1981 | Musician |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Brody Jenner | 1983 | Television personality |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Kendall Jenner | 1995 | Model |
| Grandchild (via Caitlyn) | Kylie Jenner | 1997 | Entrepreneur |
| Great-Grandchild | Francesca Marino | — | Via Cassandra “Casey” Marino |
Family gatherings for the Jenners blended the quiet pride of a veteran with the starpower of a future Olympian and media figures. Through it all, accounts suggest William valued presence over publicity—showing up, showing care, and keeping counsel.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1923 | Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada (Feb 7) |
| 1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Army (5th Ranger Battalion) |
| 1944 | Landed at Omaha Beach during D-Day (June 6) |
| 1945 | Silver medal, 100-yard dash, Army Olympics; discharged |
| 1946 | Married Esther Ruth McGuire in Stamford, Connecticut |
| 1949 | Birth of Caitlyn (then William Bruce) Jenner (Oct 28) |
| 1950s–1970s | Worked as an arborist; family life in the Northeast |
| 1976 | Son Burt dies in a car accident (Nov 30) |
| 1980s–1990s | Grandchildren born; family relocates to California |
| 2000 | Died in Carnelian Bay, California (Dec 28) |
Echoes in the Present (2001–2025)
More than two decades after his passing, William Hugh Jenner’s name appears in tributes, family remembrances, and occasional nods tied to wartime anniversaries. Social media posts by descendants honor his service, sometimes framed by visits to veterans’ memorials or D-Day commemorations. Modern curiosity also stirs up genealogical questions—such as possible links to historical figures—though these remain conversational rather than definitive.
Recent years (2024–2025) have not brought new revelations about his life; the record stays steady: a Canadian-born American who stormed Omaha Beach, ran fast enough to earn an Army medal, and later spent a lifetime tending trees and raising a family. The spotlight belongs mostly to his descendants, but the root system is his.
Character and Legacy
Jenner’s biography reads like a well-planted oak: growth rings of duty, family, work, and endurance. He prized action over acclaim. He respected institutions—military, marriage, and honest labor—and seemed to measure success by reliability. The branches of his family reached high into public life, yet his legacy is the trunk—solid, weathered, essential.
In stories told by those who knew him, he emerges as disciplined, calm, and supportive, especially of Caitlyn’s athletic development. The soldier’s precision became a parent’s patience. The arborist who knew how to prune and brace also knew when to step back and let the next generation rise toward the light.
FAQ
Who was William Hugh Jenner?
He was a Canadian-born American World War II veteran and arborist, best known today as the father of Caitlyn Jenner.
When and where was he born?
He was born on February 7, 1923, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
What did he do during World War II?
He served in the U.S. Army’s 5th Ranger Battalion, landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944.
Did he receive any athletic honors?
Yes, he won a silver medal in the 100-yard dash at the Army Olympics in 1945.
Whom did he marry and how many children did they have?
He married Esther Ruth McGuire in 1946; they had four children: Pamela, Lisa, Burt, and Caitlyn.
What happened to his son Burt?
Burt died in a car accident on November 30, 1976, in Canton, Connecticut.
What was his profession after the war?
He worked for decades as an arborist and tree surgeon, providing a steady, middle-class livelihood.
When did he pass away?
He died of cancer on December 28, 2000, in Carnelian Bay, California, at age 77.
