BULLIS, Reginald L. 1928-2018

BULLIS, KEITH, LIBERSKY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 11/7/2024 at 16:45:13

Reginald L. Bullis, 90, of Waterloo, Iowa, formerly of La Porte City, died on September 23, after a brief illness.

Reg was born 30 July 1928, in Nashua, Iowa, son of Monroe and Clara (Keith) Bullis. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1947. Reg and Ermajean (Libersky) were married on 20 June 1948 in St. Ansgar, Iowa, at the Lutheran Church.

Reg worked full time at Oliver Tractor in Charles City as a radial drill press operator after graduating from high school. Shortly thereafter, he began pursuing his teaching degree full time at Iowa State Teacher College (UNI), graduating in 1952. He immediately began his teaching career at Williamsburg High School, teaching and also coaching football.

In 1956, Reg moved his family to La Porte City, accepting a teaching position at La Porte City in the industrial arts department in disciplines of: woodworking, building trades, metal machining, casting, sheetmetal, auto mechanics, electricity and electronics. In 1966, Reg earned a Masters Degree in Industrial Technology at the State College of Iowa (UNI).

Reg taught thousands of students over a career that spanned nearly 40 years. Many of the students have gone on to have successful careers in their chosen fields of industrial technology

Reg was a respected, lifelong educator both in and out of the classroom. Always willing to share his knowledge and experiences, Reg worked as a plumber and A/C technician during the summer months while teaching, owned a television sales and service business, and also served on the La Porte City Utilities Board for several years.

After retirement, Reg continued to stay active and up-to-date with technology. He assisted in installing hardware for distance learning activities at Hawkeye Community College and surrounding locations. Reg was the La Porte City building and electrical inspector for many years, as well as an active volunteer at the La Porte City FFA museum.

Reg was truly a family man and educator. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren – building projects, designing and building life-sized Christmas decorations, building and flying RC airplanes, home building, and home repairs. Reg and Ermajean built and/or refinished hundreds of pieces of furniture over the years. While always busy, Reg found time to pick up a fishing rod, play cards, enjoyed many years of HAM radio operation. Reg and Ermajean travelled to many destinations, visiting all but one of the states in the US.

Survivors: His wife; daughter Cheryl (Brad) Bechthold. Sons: David (Celeste Johnson) Bullis; Craig (Susan) Bullis. Grandchildren: Douglas (Nicky) Bechthold; Kelsey Bechthold (Ray) Werner; Megan Bullis (Marc) Hardy; and Michael Bullis. Great-grandchildren: Zoey Bechthold, Luke Bechthold, Oscar Werner, and “Baby Werner”, due in December. Brother: Vallejo Bullis.

Preceded in death by: His parents; sister, Maybeth and brother, Thurlow.

Services:
Friday, September 28, 2018 at the American Lutheran Church, 801 Monroe Street, La Porte City, Iowa

Cemetery:
West View Cemetery in La Porte City

SOURCE: Kearns Funeral Service (Waterloo, Iowa)