William Glen Belzer, 02 Sept 1948 - 10 Jan 2016

BELZER, DAVIS, COAKLEY, GRIM, LINGAFELTER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 1/21/2016 at 13:36:19

Funeral service for William “Bill” G. Belzer, 67, Williamsburg, former Iowa County engineer, originally of Wapello, was held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 14, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home, Wapello. He died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at his home surrounded by family.

The Rev. Rod Cooper officiated at the service.

Burial was in the Wapello Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Gideon's International, Iowa City Hospice or Mt. Pleasant Christian School.

Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home, Wapello, was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.dudgeonmcculley.com.

William Glen Belzer was born Sept. 2, 1948, in Iowa City, the son of C.L. “Bill” Belzer and Betty Jean (Coakley) Davis. He married Carla Rae Grim on Aug. 12, 1967, in Wapello. He graduated from Wapello Community High School in 1966 and received his degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University in 1972. He worked in civil engineering as a consultant, for private building companies, in research and development and in the public sector building roads and bridges. Bridges were his passion. His children vividly remember how even family vacations were routed by construction maps so he could “inspect” the latest bridges along the way. Over the span of his career, Bill was licensed as a professional engineer in nearly every state in the U.S. until he retired in October 2014.

He also loved being a Gideon. Getting God's word into every person's hands was a top priority to him. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, he still insisted on visiting the campus in Iowa City to help the Gideons deliver Bibles. He was not a preacher, but he spoke on the Gideon's mission at many different churches. He also volunteered his time to teach advanced math classes on his lunch hours to students at Mt. Pleasant Christian School.

He was always there to help without being asked, whether fixing a porch, cleaning a flooded basement, blowing insulation in an attic, or roofing a house, he helped where he could.

Every game Bill played was for “the championship of the world” whether it was the final football game against Columbus Junction his senior year, or a game of Uno with his grandkids, never conceding defeat without issuing another challenge. He taught his family to never give up. He loved helping his kids and grandkids with their math problems and even made up his own math and logic problems to solve for fun. He had a great sense of humor, loved playing with his grandkids and feeding them candy much to their parents’ dismay. He taught his family to be lifetime Chicago Bears fans.

He loved babies and volunteered in the church nursery. He felt as if they were all his. Most of all, Bill loved the Lord and was committed to Him, raising his children to love Him too.

Belzer is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carla, Williamsburg; daughter, Terisa (Travis) Lingafelter, Newton, Ill.; son, Nathan (Rebecca) Belzer, Wapello; son, Trevor (Karla) Belzer, Dixon, Ill.; six grandchildren, Whitney, Wyatt, Tabitha, Elijah, Owen and Evan; his father, C.L. “Bill” Belzer, New Boston, Mo.; brother, Terry (Sylvia) Belzer, Wapello; several aunts and uncles as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He preceded in death by his grandparents; his mother, Betty Davis; step-mother, Charlotte Belzer, and his infant son.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 20 Jan 2016, pg 5