William Claire Ferguson (-2014)

FERGUSON, SINGBUSH, SINGBUSCH, HARGRAVE, SOUER, ZELINSKY, HANSEN

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/10/2017 at 02:00:04

William C. Ferguson

A funeral service for William C. "Bill" Ferguson was held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the Hartley United Methodist Church in Hartley, Iowa. Rev. Steve Campbell officiated. Pallbearers were Will Souer, Brian Souer, David Zelinsky, Ronnie Zelmsky, Clayton Pyle and Robert Young. Military Graveside Rites were conducted by Arthur W. Kirchhoff Legion Post #288 of Hartley. Interment was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

William Clair Ferguson, the son of William Earl and Charlotte Elizabeth (Singbush)[sic] Ferguson, was born on December 23, 1926 at Estherville, Iowa. Two sisters, Ruth and Joan, and a brother, Tom, completed the family He attended schools in the Estherville area.

Bill served two years in the United States Army at Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Lee, Virginia. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict. While returning from Korea, Bill's unit stopped in Japan, where he purchased wedding rings for himself and his bride-to-be, Karleen Hargrave.

Following his honorable discharge, Bill and Karleen were united in marriage on January 17, 1953 at Jackson, Minnesota. To this union, five children were born.

The couple made their home on a farm near Gillett Grove, Iowa and then moved to a farm south of Dickens, Iowa. They relocated to a farm west of Hartley, Iowa in 1970, which is where they raised their family. In 1982, Bill and Karleen retired from farming and moved into the town of Hartley. He then went on to drive truck for Rohlin' Construction Co. and later Dave's Sand and Gravel.

Bill passed away at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on January 5, 2013, at the age of 87 years and 15 days.

Left to cherish his memory are his children and their families: Sherry (Wayne) Souer of Delta, Iowa, Stan (Sherrie) Ferguson of Charter Oak, Iowa, and Bob (Sheila) Ferguson of Bunnlevel, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth Zelinsky of Terril, Iowa; sister-in-law, Arlene Hargrave of Dickens, Iowa; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents; wife Karleen of 54 years; two sons. William Michael Ferguson and Ben Thomas Ferguson; daughter-in-law, Janet Ferguson; sister, Joan (Harry) Hansen; brother, Tom (Nola) Ferguson; brothers-in-law. Bill Hargrave, Wilbur Zelinsky and Fred "Bud" (Arlene) Hargrave.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, Jan 16, 2014, p4