PRIEST, William Harold "Bill"

PRIEST, VENN, ELLARS, NUSSBAUM, EIGHME, MENKENS, PERKINS, GIBOSN, GOEDKEN, BROWN, BRAND

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/29/2015 at 20:47:46

Obituary ~ William Harold "Bill" Priest
February 02, 1919 ~ April 01, 2003

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
April, 2003

William Harold "Bill" Priest, of Leon, son of William Everett and Gertrude Venn Priest, was born Feb. 2, 1919, near Creston in Union County and died April 1, 2003, at Westview Acres in Leon. He was 84.

He attended Lincoln School in Union County He moved with his parents to Decatur County in 1938. He met Maudie Irene Ellars as a result of that move and they were married May 25, 1940, in Creston. They became the parents of a daughter and two sons, Clarence William, Janet Irene and Darwin Lester.

Mr. and Mrs. Priest lived on various farms in Decatur and Ringgold counties for the first 23 years of their marriage. They were named to the positions of county home steward and matron for Decatur County in 1963. The Decatur County Home closed in 1975. They were employed by Union County as steward and matron until the Union County Care Facility closed in 1984.

Mr. Priest retired to his home in Leon in 1984. He was an avid fisherman. His favorite pastime was fishing with his friend, Earl Nussbaum.

He was a member of the Leon Assembly of God. He trusted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and truly believed in God's grace and love for him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Vera Eighme; six brothers, Arthur, Elton, John, Carl, Vern and Marion. His son, Darwin Lester was stillborn on Jan. 4, 1948.

Mr. Priest is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Maudie Priest; a son Clarence William "Dick" Priest and his wife, Sally Priest and daughter, Janet Menkens and her husband, Jim Menkens, all of Leon; and his sister, Edna Perkins of Afton.

Other survivors include his seven grandchilden, Joy Gibson of Ankeny, Joyce Goedken, of Greeley, Michael Priest of Chariton, Mark Priest of Waterloo, Joni Priest of Elgin, Ill., Brenda Brown, Nevada, Mo. and Douglas Brand of Rapid City, S.D.; 16 great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; four great-stepgrandchildren; nephews and nieces; other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Priest were April 5 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Richard Queener and the Rev. Max Carmichael officiating.

Organist, Virginia Webb accompanied Don Wilson as he sang How Great Thou Art and Terry Roberts who sang Safely Home.

Casket bearers were Mr. Priest's grandsons and great-grandsons, Michael Priest, Douglas Brand, Mark Priest, Nathan Gibson, Jason Gibson and Luke Priest. Interment was in the Leon Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leon Assembly of God.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015