William F. Bills (1933-2022)

BILLS, ECKHART, BECKER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/17/2022 at 20:06:40

William F. Bills peacefully departed this life on Wednesday August 17, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at The Views Senior Living in Marion, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories at 2:00 PM on Monday, August 22, 2022, where a visitation will begin at 1:00 PM until service time. The interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

William “Bill” Bills was born to Wendell and Evelyn (Eckhart) Bills in Marion, Iowa, on Oct. 6, 1933. Bill attended Marion High School while working at Baker’s Shoes until entering the service. Bill was a Veteran of the U.S. Army where he proudly served during the Korean War. Upon returning from Korea, Bill returned to Baker’s Shoes and then worked for Smulekoff’s until 1962. During this time, Bill fell in love and was united in marriage to Mary Jo (Becker) in 1963. They settled in Cedar Rapids and started a family.

Bill then went to work at Alan Furniture until 1972 when he proudly opened his own furniture business, Bills’ Brothers Freight Salvage Furniture by partnering with his parents, brother Earl, and his wife Mary Jo. The venture was started with $12,000 and with the help of his family, his wife and later on his children. The business has grown to 5 buildings covering a block and a half. Bill would say other than his family this was his greatest accomplishment.

Bill and Nancy (Stultz) were both given a second chance at love after losing their spouses. They met at the Elk’s Club and what started with a dance grew and the two were wed in 2008. Bill was loved and cared for by Nancy’s family and became a very special part of their lives. Those left to cherish Bill’s memory are his wife, Nancy Bills; his children Pamela Jo (Gary) Kaufman; Michael (Sandra) Bills; stepsons Chris (Paula) Stultz; Jimmy (Elizabeth) Stultz; twelve grandchildren, and many special extended family members.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Evelyn Bills; his wife, Mary Jo Bills; his brother, Earl Bills; and his son, William D. Bills.

Bill enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and especially took pleasure in the times he had at Lake Delhi at his family cabin. While he was often found “working” he would say it wasn’t really work as he felt most relaxed by the water. Bill could put together most anything, which started as a boy putting a motor on a bicycle. After returning from the service, Bill bought his grandfather’s Studebaker and transformed it from drawings he had done while in Korea.

When Bill drove this to his store, customers would always admire and have questions for him. His love of cars and motorcycles never faded. Bill loved landscaping his yard, spending countless hours working on his ponds. Bill was quick with a joke, and never knew a stranger. Even in his last few years of life, he enjoyed helping customers at the store from his scooter and passing business tips to his son.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Eastern Iowa Honor Flight in his honor. 100% of donations go to providing honor flights to veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mercy Hospital nurses and providers, Mercy Hospice, and the staff at the View for the loving care everyone has given Bill over the last several months.