William Carl Vorseth 1936-2006

FRANK, VORSETH, PUTZIER, BUTZ

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/20/2006 at 11:14:24

William Vorseth

William C. Vorseth, 70, of rural Waterville, Iowa, died Wednesday, August 16, 2006, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis. Memorial services were held Saturday, August 19, at Waterville Lutheran Church in Waterville, with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial of ashes was in Waterville Lutheran Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

William Carl was born June 30, 1936, in Waterville, the son of Clarence Arnold and Margaret Ann (Frank) Vorseth. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1954. After attending Luther College in Decorah for a year, Bill went to Iowa State University, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and earned a degree in civil engineering. After spending some time in the US Army, he took his first engineering job with the California Highway Commission in Los Angeles. He returned to Iowa where he married Judith Jane Putzier. They were later divorced. Bill worked for the Iowa Highway Commission out of Davenport and played a vital role in designing and planning the construction of the I-80 Mississippi River bridge. He did additional projects for the commission in Atlantic, Iowa, before serving as city engineer at several Iowa communities. He returned to rural Waterville where he established his own business, Vorseth Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc. Being licensed in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, he did engineering consulting throughout the tri-state area for a number of years before health conditions forced him to retire.

Bill was a member of numerous professional engineering organizations and at various times was active in Masonic Lodge, barbershoppers, and the Waterville Lutheran Church. In his younger days he was an excellent baseball player and athlete. He stayed active later by being outdoors and spending time hunting, fishing, skiing, and riding motorcycle and snowmobile. Maintaining a keen interest in Republican Party politics and caring for the sheep he raised on the farm where he lived were two more of Bill's favorite pastimes.

Survivors include a son, Eric (Mary) Vorseth of Crestwood, Ky., and their children Chloe and Seth William Vorseth; his mother, Margaret Vorseth Smith of Waterloo, Iowa; a brother, Duane (Sue) Vorseth of Gold Canyon, Ariz.; and a sister, Betty (Roger) Butz of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his father Clarence.

Honorary casketbearers were Rudy Hesla, Dick Christianson, Bill Collins, Wayne and Jeff Kelly, Norman Thorsen, Bob Schlitter, Robert Evers, and Tom Culliton.

Waukon Standard, August 23, 2006