(CBS DETROIT) – William “Bill” Post, the Michigan native who was a key figure in creating Pop-Tarts, has died. He was 96.
Post, who died on Feb. 10, grew up in Grand Rapids and was one of seven children of Dutch immigrants, according to his obituary.
He graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School, and while he was a student, he had a part-time job as a truck washer at Hekman Biscuit Company, which later became known as Keebler Company.
Post served in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan and also married his high school sweetheart, Florence Schut.
When he returned home, he started working part time at Hekman again and went to Calvin College for two years.
By age 21, Post was the company’s full-time personnel manager and also worked with sales, production, and more.
Twenty years later, Post was the plant manager of Hekman (Keebler) and welcomed Kellogg’s executives who had an idea for a new product for Keebler to make.