William “Bill” LaVelle

LEVELLE, SMITH, KANE, MAJOR, BENNETT, COBB

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 2/26/2024 at 08:15:31

William “Bill” LaVelle, 88, of Coralville, passed away on February 6, 2024 in Iowa City.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville.

Bill was born on January 17, 1936 in Sioux City, Iowa to William and Hazel (Smith) LaVelle. He graduated from Heelan High School in Sioux City. On June 20, 1959 he married his high school sweetheart, Loretta Kane and to this union, six children were born.

Bill graduated from the University of Iowa Dental School before serving in the United States Navy for two years. Upon discharge, he returned to Iowa joining his good friend Gene Zach in a Dental Practice in Cedar Rapids.

In 1971 Bill and Loretta moved to Iowa City which began Bill’s long tenure as a Dentist in the Otolaryngology Department at the University of Iowa. Bill attained many accomplishments throughout his career. He was very proud of his work on the University of Iowa Cleft Palate Team. Bill was named Professor Emeritus for his many years as an educator at the University of Iowa Dental School.

In his free time, Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He loved snow skiing and water skiing spending time between the mountains and his beloved cabin on the lake in Minnesota. He loved biking, fishing and hunting.

In retirement, Bill volunteered his time at a Community Dental Clinic in Colorado and participated in several mission trips with Cleft Palate Teams to South America.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Loretta; children: Erin (Tom) Major, Brian LaVelle (Millie Bennett), Colleen LaVelle, Doug (Elizabeth) LaVelle, Mick (Jennifer) LaVelle and Megan LaVelle (Brian Cobb); 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a very special aunt and uncle: Cecil and Earl Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Essence of Life Hospice, The Newman Center, Regina Catholic Education Center or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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