WILL, Earl J. 1936-2018

WILL, PATTERSON

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 9/16/2018 at 17:02:44

U.S. VETERAN

Earl J. Will

Earl J. Will was born in Tipton, Iowa on March 4, 1930. In 1936, he and seven of his ten siblings went with their mother to live at Mooseheart Children’s Home near Chicago when his father died. At Mooseheart, he discovered a love of classical music and electrical engineering. Earl served during the Korean conflict playing the French horn as a member of the Army band.

After college, Earl married Carol Patterson in St. Louis, MO. Together they raised four biological children and the cared for over 40 foster children in their home, first in Ft. Madison, then in Keokuk, IA. After retirement, they lived for ten years in Borrego Springs, California, before moving to Cedar Falls.

Earl worked as an electrical engineer for Union Electric in St. Louis, Ft. Madison, and Keokuk. He and Carol have been very active over the years in churches and have been enthusiastic fans of symphonies wherever they lived. Friends and family have always benefited from Earl’s willingness to help solve and fix anything!

Earl J. Will, 88, of the Western Home in Cedar Falls, passed away from complications of Parkinson’s on Thursday, September 13, 2018. He went peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. He is preceded in death by ten siblings and a daughter-in-law, Donna.

Earl is survived by his wife of 61 years; son Jeffery (Vickie) of Mechanicsville, VA; daughters: Susan (Tom) Whitson of Niota, IL, Linda (Kirk) Schwerzler of Shelton, WA and Sharon (Clark) Porter of Waterloo, along with twelve grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions please be made to The Western Home Employees Appreciation Fund in gratitude for the care they gave Earl with both their hands and hearts.

SOURCE: Parrott & Wood funeral home