Pop-Tarts inventor Bill Post dies at age 96

William "Bill" Post, the Michigan man known for inventing the beloved breakfast staple Pop-Tarts, has died. He was 96.

Post passed away on Saturday, according to his obituary. A son of Dutch immigrants, Post was raised in Grand Rapids, Mich.,

He served in the Army Air Corps in Japan and after returning to the U.S., he attended Calvin College for two years and married his high school sweetheart, Florence. The couple remained married for 72 years. 

Post developed the Pop-Tart while he was in his 40s working as a plant manager of the Hekman Biscuit Company, what is now known as the Keebler Company, after being approached by Kellogg Company executives. 

"It is at this juncture that Bill is often credited for having 'invented' the Pop Tart," his obituary states. "To be accurate, however, Bill would say, 'I assembled an amazing team that developed Kellogg’s concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that we could bring to market in the span of just four months.'"

He retired at the age of 56 as senior vice president of Keebler, which was later purchased by Kellogg's.

Post's life is also marked by his devout Christianity. He was a member of Gideons International for 60 years, and his obituary states: "He was the first to bring comfort, read scripture and offer a prayer with any friend or family member in need."

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