William Roy Dole (2021)

ARNOLD, BACHMAN, BALEKOS, BEAN, DANNENBERG, DAVISSON, DOLE, DONNER, DURST, GREINER, HENZE, LOFQUIST, REED, ROLING, SMITH, STANLEY, STUDER, VITEK

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:36

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home
Winterset Chapel
Winterset, Iowa

William Dole

William (Bill) Roy Dole was born Dec. 1, 1928, in Hardin County, IA, to Joseph and Susie (Reed) Dole. The 5th of 11 Dole children, Bill was raised in rural Eldora. He attended a one-room country schoolhouse until 8th grade, when he began to work on the family farm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with family receiving friends one hour prior beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset. Livestreaming of the Mass of Christian Burial will be available at caldwellparrish.com on Bill’s Tribute Wall. Burial will take place in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Eldora, IA at 5:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Winterset Meals on Wheels and/or Lakeview Golf and Country Club in Winterset.

When Bill was a boy, he was known for his work hard, play hard mentality. But from the sounds of things, the “play hard” interfered with the work hard a little more than it should as Bill was known for his mischief and pranks.

From 1951-52, Bill served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a telegraph lineman and was proud of his service to his country. After the war, Bill returned to Eldora where he worked on the farm with his family.

Bill was united in marriage to the love of his life, Nancy Dannenberg of Hubbard, IA, on Dec. 4, 1954. They had the model marriage the rest of his children and grandchildren could look up to. With Bill being the “tall one” at about 5’2”, they were the cutest little couple you ever saw. They built a home full of love, joy and laughter that produced six children.

After Bill and Nancy were married, they made their home in Hubbard. Bill worked for various companies in the farming industry, including Quarter Oats and Cargill. In 1970, they moved the family to Colo when Bill took a position with FS. He later accepted a job with the Colo Co-Op Elevator in 1974 where he worked until he retired in 1993. Even after retirement, Bill enjoyed farming and would help his family during planting and harvest. He couldn’t wait for the phone to ring to come and help. After retirement, Bill and Nancy continued to make their home in Colo and spent their winters in Pharr, TX.

Nancy passed on March 4, 2003, after a battle with cancer. Following her death, Bill remained devoted to her. He made regular trips to visit her gravesite in Eldora. He never missed a birthday, anniversary or special date and made sure there were flowers decorating her resting place. In 2012, Bill moved to Winterset, IA, to be closer to family where he would spend his twilight years.

Bill enjoyed a variety of leisurely activities to fill his free time. Bowling on Tuesday nights. Playing cards and Cribbage with friends. Going on regular family camping and fishing trips to “exotic” locations like Buckeye, IA, Underwood, MN and Leach Lake, MN. Homemade ice cream was a staple at family gatherings. He loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events.

Most importantly, Bill had a passion for golfing. He was part of the group that help build the golf course in Hubbard in the 60s. Bill was a happy man to be on the golf course with a beer in one hand and cigar in the other. He cherished family gatherings that were centered around the Dole clan of children and grandchildren taking over the golf course with a slew of foursomes. Other golfers may not have enjoyed the hooting, laughing and wayward drives from the Dole’s, but we sure did! When Bill relocated to Winterset, his outgoing nature helped him make fast friends at Lakeview Country Club. If Bill wasn’t home watching the Iowa Hawkeyes or his beloved Chicago Cubs, you knew he was on the golf course. At 92, Bill golfed two times the week before he passed.

Bill died peacefully at his home in Winterset on July 25, 2021. He was ready to join Nancy in heaven, so they could go golfing together once again. Keep hitting ‘em long and straight, Bill.

Those left to cherish Bill’s memory are his six children, Ron (Dee) Dole of Colo, IA; June Davisson of McAllen, TX; Leandra (Tony) Durst of Guthrie Center, IA; Tom (Jan) Dole of Anamosa, IA; Matt (Candi) Dole of Winterset, IA; and Sharon (Kevin) Studer of Johnston, IA; 11 grandchildren, Scott Dole, Ryan Dole, Beth Smith, Kyla (Marty) Vitek, Nicole (Daniel) Bean, Cammy (Brandon) Balekos, Courtney Dole, Emma Dole, Sean Dole, Callie Studer and Zoey Studer; five great grandchildren, Jack Vitek, Tommy Vitek, Henry Vitek, Kayla Bean, Jace Bean; one great, great grandchild; Karter Stanley; 3 siblings, Ruth Donner of Washington, IA; Harold (Jean) Dole of Grundy Center, IA; Patricia Lofquist of Byron, IL; four in-laws, Bernice Greiner of Longmont, CO; Mavis Bachman of Toledo, IA; Walter Dannenberg of Omaha, NE; Audrey Dole of Iowa Falls, IA.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents; five brothers, (Fred, Richard, Lee, Glen and Larry); two sisters (Helen Roling and Marylin Arnold); one son-in-law, Doyle Davisson; two grandchildren Joseph Henze, and Hope Studer.

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