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1927
William
2012
William Henry Votsmier
September 6, 1927 — September 8, 2012
William H. Votsmier, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, September 8, 2012, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 12th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 4:00 PM scripture service and an 8:00 PM Knights of Columbus Rosary Service. The members of Davis Assembly, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will hold honor guard from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Friends from Illinois may greet the family from 10:00 to 11:00 AM Friday, September 14th at McCullough-Delaney & Butler Funeral Home in New Berlin. Burial will follow at 11:30 AM at St. Mary's Cemetery in New Berlin.
William Henry Votsmier was born on September 6, 1927, in Ashland, IL, the son of Charles and Rosene (Dunlap) Votsmier. Bill lived in several Illinois towns when he was young, including Salem where he graduated from high school. Many of the summers he spent working on his grandparents' farm. Bill served twice in the US Navy, shortly after high school and again during the Korean War. He was a Storekeeper Chief on the USS Kiowa and saw nearly 2 years of sea service, much of that near China. On August 10, 1950, Bill married Rita Ann Meier at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Berlin, IL. He started his working career for Farm Service, earning his way into a management role after serving in several towns in Illinois. He spent twelve years in Dyersville, IA, where he retired from Farm Service and started a career as a Knights of Columbus Insurance agent. In 1980 Bill moved his family to Waukon, IA where he owned and operated Town & Country True Value Hardware with his son Chuck until he retired in 2003.
Bill was an active community member wherever he lived. He was a life member of Knights of Columbus and held numerous offices including Grand Knight, District Deputy, and Faithful Navigator. He was a member of the Parish Council at the Catholic Church and the hospital board when he lived in Dyersville, and he was also a member of the American Legion.
An outdoorsman all his life, Bill enjoyed hunting when he was younger and more recently had become an avid fisherman. He was a member of card clubs with Rita and liked following sports, especially auto racing. For many years Bill and Rita spent winters in South Padre Island, TX and enjoyed making short trips to visit their son Mark's family when they were there.
Bill is survived by his wife Rita of Waukon; 2 sons: Chuck (Lois) of Waukon and their children Jennifer and Scott, and Mark (Anita) of The Woodlands, TX and their children Nicole and Monica; and 2 sisters: Marge (Clyde) Ludlum of Bushnell, IL and Charlene (Jim) Eck of New Berlin, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister and brother-in-law Ann and Joe Alvey.
Casketbearers are Dennis Blocker, Dave Duncklee, Harold Pronga, Clair Riesberg, Bob Rotach, Jeff Wieneke, Bill Marr, Tim Eck, Dick Welch, Kent Meier, Gary and Ron Ludlum.
William Henry Votsmier was born on September 6, 1927, in Ashland, IL, the son of Charles and Rosene (Dunlap) Votsmier. Bill lived in several Illinois towns when he was young, including Salem where he graduated from high school. Many of the summers he spent working on his grandparents' farm. Bill served twice in the US Navy, shortly after high school and again during the Korean War. He was a Storekeeper Chief on the USS Kiowa and saw nearly 2 years of sea service, much of that near China. On August 10, 1950, Bill married Rita Ann Meier at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Berlin, IL. He started his working career for Farm Service, earning his way into a management role after serving in several towns in Illinois. He spent twelve years in Dyersville, IA, where he retired from Farm Service and started a career as a Knights of Columbus Insurance agent. In 1980 Bill moved his family to Waukon, IA where he owned and operated Town & Country True Value Hardware with his son Chuck until he retired in 2003.
Bill was an active community member wherever he lived. He was a life member of Knights of Columbus and held numerous offices including Grand Knight, District Deputy, and Faithful Navigator. He was a member of the Parish Council at the Catholic Church and the hospital board when he lived in Dyersville, and he was also a member of the American Legion.
An outdoorsman all his life, Bill enjoyed hunting when he was younger and more recently had become an avid fisherman. He was a member of card clubs with Rita and liked following sports, especially auto racing. For many years Bill and Rita spent winters in South Padre Island, TX and enjoyed making short trips to visit their son Mark's family when they were there.
Bill is survived by his wife Rita of Waukon; 2 sons: Chuck (Lois) of Waukon and their children Jennifer and Scott, and Mark (Anita) of The Woodlands, TX and their children Nicole and Monica; and 2 sisters: Marge (Clyde) Ludlum of Bushnell, IL and Charlene (Jim) Eck of New Berlin, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister and brother-in-law Ann and Joe Alvey.
Casketbearers are Dennis Blocker, Dave Duncklee, Harold Pronga, Clair Riesberg, Bob Rotach, Jeff Wieneke, Bill Marr, Tim Eck, Dick Welch, Kent Meier, Gary and Ron Ludlum.
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