William H. Willroth

WILLROTH

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 11/22/2006 at 19:19:46

William H. Willroth
Denison Bulletin/Review

Denison IA 51442

11/17/2006

William Henry Willroth was born in Denison, Iowa on October 31, 1908, the son of William Henry and Martha Esther Jones Willroth. When he was five years of age the family moved to a farm west of Vail, Iowa where he was raised. Following his graduation from the Vail High School with the class of 1927, he attended Iowa State University in Ames for two years. Upon completion of his college studies he returned to Denison and was employed as a surveyor with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

On April 9,1930, William was united in marriage with Louise Adele Neumeyer in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their union was blessed with four children, William, Thomas, Mary and Mark. They made their home in Denison where he operated the Skelly Oil Company from 1932 until 1960.

In 1960, they moved to Ames, Iowa, where Bill was Superintendent for Residential Maintenance at Iowa State University for 19 years, of which the last five years were in an advisory capacity. They spent their retirement years in Ames until returning to Denison in 1998. In March of 2003 they moved to the Risen Sun Christian Village in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Louise died November 10, 2003, and since that time Bill had made his home with his daughter, Mary Louise and husband, Michael Dudzinski, in rural Glenwood, Iowa, and, most recently in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa, and in earlier years, was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

William died Friday morning in the loving care of his daughter, Mary Louise, at her home in Omaha, Nebraska on November 10, 2006. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 98 years and 10 days.

Including his parents and his wife, Louise, William was preceded in death by one son, Dr. Thomas Willroth and two brothers, Ralph and Robert Willroth. Those remaining to cherish his memory include three children, William H. Willroth and wife, JoAnne of Vermillion, South Dakota, Mary Louise and husband, Michael Dudzinski of Omaha, Nebraska and Mark Willroth and wife, Denise of Jefferson City, Missouri, daughterin-law, Michaela Willroth of Reno, Nevada, 8 grandchildren, William Willroth IV of Vermillion, South Dakota, Susan and husband, Tom Johnson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Tom Willroth, Jr. of Reno, Nevada, Amy and husband, Tim Klein of Omaha, Nebraska, Michael Dudzinski and wife, Diane of Omaha, Nebraska, Lowell Dudzinski and wife, Shannon of Ankeny, Iowa, Julie and husband, David Williams of Omaha, Nebraska and Missy Willroth of Jefferson City, Missouri, 19 great-grandchildren, two great- great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 am., Thursday, November 16, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Music for the service included Sue Rosener singing, Onward Christian Soldiers and How Great Thou Art with Nancy Miles serving as organist. Honorary Pallbearers were Bills great grandsons. Pallbearers included William Willroth IV, Tom Willroth, Jr., Michael Dudzinski, Lowell Dudzinski, David Williams and Tim Klein. Interment was at the Oakland Cemetery in Denison. Following the service the family invited everyone to return to the church and join them in fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the United Methodist Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.