Rice, William J. – 1932-2007

ABRAHAMS, BLOODSWORTH, FAGG, FISHER, HAMILTON, MARCUM, RICE, SHIPMAN, SLOCUM, VRIEZELAAR, WOODY

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp (email)
Date: 8/10/2016 at 10:45:33

Services Held
William J. Rice, age 75 of Monroe, died Friday, May 11, 2007, at Skiff Medical Center – Monarch Wing in Newton. Funeral services were held on Monday, May 14, 2007, at First Baptist Church in Monroe with burial following at Silent City Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of Jasper County – Monarch Wing or the Monroe American Legion. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
The son of William & Gertrude (Bloodsworth) Rice, Bill was born on February 1, 1932, in Harvey, Iowa. Bill served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Following his service time he went to body & fender school in Kansas City. He owned a body shop in Monroe, a DX station in Newton and was an owner/operator for North American Van Lines for nine years. He then joined the Carpenters Local 109 and worked as a millwright for 20 years at 3M in Knoxville. Bill also operated a small farm near Melcher Dallas and owned the Farmhouse Restaurant, along with all of his other jobs. In 1955, he was united in marriage to Velma Vriezelaar Fisher in Kansas City, Missouri. Bill was also a member of the Monroe American Legion, the Knoxville V.F.W. and the Carpenters Local 106.
Survivors are his wife of 52 years Velma of Monroe, his children, Janice Marie Rice and her friend Rick Shipman of Monroe, and Robert Fisher and his wife Susan of Deerfield Beach, Florida, a granddaughter, Kristy Fisher and her fiancée Paul Hamilton, a grandson Nathanial Fisher and his wife Martina, two great grandsons, Ethan Robert and Nathaniel Hudson Fisher. Also surviving are two brothers, Ted and Evelyn Rice of Des Moines and Chuck and Dixie Rice of Reasnor as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, an infant daughter, Judith Ann, sisters, Sarah Ann Slocum and her husband Ray and Viola Abrahams and her husband Vernon, a brother, Davie Rice, and nephews, Teddie Rice, Ronnie Fagg, Sarge Marcum and Russ Woody.
Source: Monroe Legacy; 17 May 2007