Willard "Billy" Roe, Sr.

Willard J. "Billy" Roe, 81, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at his home in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 21st, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Willard James "Billy" Roe was born on August 20, 1932 on his parents' farm near the Elon area of rural Waukon, IA. He was the son of Ove Thorvald and Emma Christina (Kolsrud) Roe. Billy was baptized and confirmed at the Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church and attended the Fan rural school. After farming for a time with his father, Billy joined the US Army and served from September of 1953 until August of 1955. Following his discharge he returned home and on November 27, 1955 married Virginia Lou Ashbacher at the French Creek Methodist Church. They farmed together on the home farm for 12 years and then in 1967 moved to Mesa, AZ where Billy worked at a farm implement dealership. They moved back to Waukon in 1969. Billy kept up his interest in farming by raising a few hogs; he also sold Norris welding equipment, drove a milk truck for Ludlow Creamery, and sold cars for the Ford dealership in Lansing and Torkelson Motors in Waukon.

Billy was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he formerly served as a deacon, as well as the American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed antique tractors and liked to ride his in parades and tractorcades where he had won numerous awards. The past several years he had been playing his polka music at area nursing homes and meal sites. Playing cards, fishing, spending time at his cabin in Harpers Ferry, and taking care of his lawn were some of Billy's other favorite pastimes. He loved being around people, whether taking a safari through the local countryside with friends or going to the daily coffee time at Goodyear Tire Center, and was known for his good sense of humor and good natured practical jokes. Many of Billy's favorite times were spent with his family and his beloved dogs as he sat in his garage welcoming friends for a visit or waving to neighbors as they drove by.

Survivors include his wife Virginia of Waukon; his 4 children: Christine (Tim) Anthony of Waukon, Bill Jr. (Becky) of Monona, IA, Sue (Jerry) Schulte of Waukon, and John (Sharon) of Waukon; 15 grandchildren: Cindy, Angela, Carrie, Kimberly, Joe, Kim, Katie, Kelly, Mitch, Brent, Blake, Briana, Dylan, Emma, and Isaac; 20 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law Darlene Roe of Mesa, AZ. He is preceded in death by his parents; 2 grandchildren: Willard Roe III and Allen Lee Miller; a sister Doris (Carl) Hanson; and 3 brothers, Tom (Delores), Melvin (Olivia), and Kenneth Roe.

Honorary casketbearers are Diane Hirth, Sheryl Bieber, Tom Jr and Steven Roe, Ronnie, Curt, and Marvin Roe, Vernon and Arden Hanson, George and Sonny Ashbacher, Dick Gearhart, Pat Curtin, Gordon Gilbertson, Charlie and Donnie Bakke, Harold Severson, Ronnie Opfer, Tom Walleser, Bill Mathis, Gordon Ellingson, Gladwin Anderson, Joe Sweeney and Rod Bloxham.

Casketbearers are Paul and Glen Mathis, Cody Bollman, Larry Magner, Jerry Roe, Roger Henningsgaard, Al Fogt, and Randy Bakke.