COLVILLE, Willis B.

COLVILLE, TAYLOR, LUWE, WAGAR, MALLEI, ANTHONY, PRITCHARD, COUNTRYMAN, CULP, JEPSEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/5/2016 at 10:20:11

Obituary ~ Willis B. Colville
July 29, 1921 ~ October 18, 2000

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
October 21, 2000

MASON CITY - Willis B. Colville, 79, of 702 First St. S.E., died Wednesday (Oct. 18, 2000) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave. with the Rev. Bill Poland officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with Flag folding rites conducted by the Mason City Memorial Association.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. and one hour before services on Saturday at the church.

Memorials may be given to Wesley United Methodist Church or the Mason City Education Foundation for the Willis B. Colville Scholarship Fund.

Willis was born July 29, 1921 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of John E. and Luva (Taylor) Colville. He graduated from the UNI High School in Cedar Falls, received his B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, M.A. degree from the University of Iowa and continued to work on his doctorate degree.

Willis married Kathryn Luwe on Dec. 24, 1943 in Wellsburg, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Marines during WWII in the South Pacific.

Willis was a teacher-coach in the Mason City School District for 31 years, retiring in 1985. He was Mason City High School's first swimming coach starting the boys program in 1963 and the girls program in 1971. During his tenure, his teams won numerous conference and district titles, two state championships and three of his swimmers were named All-American.

He was named to manage the Mason City Municipal Pool in 1969 and in 1972 started the Mason City Swim Club. He was installed into the Iowa High School Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987.

He was past chairman of the Iowa AAU Association, two-time coach of the year, served on the Mason City Park and Recreation Board for six years, a member of Wesley United Methodist Church where he had been chairman of the Board of Trustees.

He was also a member of the Evening Lions, enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, and golf.

Willis is survived by his wife, Kathryn A. Colville, of Mason City; daughter, Jonna L. Wagar and her husband, Wayne, of Marshalltown, Iowa; two sons, William G. Colville and his wife, Virginia, of Colfax, and Robert C. Colville and his wife, Deborah, of Mason City; grandchildren, Melinda L. Wagar-Mallie and her husband, Andre, Amy A. Wagar, Benjamin J.S. Wagar, Felicia Anthony, Ellen Colville, Carly Ann Colville, Willa Diane Colville, John C. Colville, Jillian S. Colville, Alyssa L. Colville, Tammy L. Pritchard, Heather M. Countryman and Jeremiah Culp; two great-grandchildren, Andre and Austin; and one sister, Bertha B. Jepsen and her husband, Myron, of Cedar Falls.

Willis was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Lauren K. Colville; and one brother, John D. Colville.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2016