William Richard Harris

HARRIS, MEFFERD, DAUGHTERY, HARRIS, AYER, STOHLMANN

Posted By: Alvin Poole (email)
Date: 11/20/2017 at 15:36:58

William Richard Harris was born July 7, 1930, to Lyman and Blanche (Mefferd) Harris in Woodbine, Iowa. He was raised on a farm south of Woodbine and graduated from Woodbine High School in 1948. During school he worked at Siebels Store and carried papers. After graduation he became a carpenter for CF DeLance. During the Korean War Bill proudly served in the United States Army. Bill, Don Clark, and Don Kelley entered the service at the same time and served their time together in Colorado and Anchorage, Alaska. On June 10, 1951, Bill married Bette Anderson at the Methodist Church in Woodbine. The couple lived in Colorado for two months and then Alaska. They returned to Woodbine following Bill's honorable discharge and Bill returned to carpentry work and worked at the post office. He retired from the post office in 1985. He continued his carpentry work building homes and six churches. Bill traveled to places following hurricanes and helped to rebuild the damaged areas in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands. Bill also helped with the SPACE program at school and helped to build the homes that are currently owned by Leo Kenkel and Bryan & Carrie Willis. Bette died on July 10, 2013. Bill moved to Papillion, Nebraska but then returned to Woodbine. Bill married Bonnie Waite on August 9, 2014, at St. John Church.

Bill was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the American Legion Weiss Post #143. Bill and Bette were active in AFS International. He enjoyed woodworking, being a handyman at church, and travelling - visiting all 50 states as well as all but one Canadian province and three trips to Europe to visit their exchange students. The couple volunteered on various mission trips through Mission Builders of the Lutheran Church..

Bill died on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa at the age of 87 years, three months, and 21 days.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Bette; and half brothers, Lawrence, Kyle and Lloyd Daugherty. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Harris of Woodbine, Iowa; two daughters, Ann Ayer of New Ulm, Minnesota, Jean (Leonard) Stohlmann of Manley, Nebraska; six grand-daughters; one great grandson; two foreign exchange students, Paula (Kustaa) Poutiainen of Helsinki, Finland, Christophe (Frederique) Massot of Paris, France; and many other relatives and friends.
Fouts Funeral Home, Oct. 28, 2017