Williams, Rev. Dr. Lynn (1949-2022)

WILLIAMS, IRWIN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/10/2022 at 11:19:46

Rev. Dr. Lynn Williams died on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at Calvin Community in Des Moines. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Lynn Michael Williams was born on March 8, 1949 in Des Moines to Dean and Phyllis (Irwin) Williams. He graduated from Atlantic High School, Central Missouri State University with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Lynn served churches in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, and Brooklyn, Creston, and Grimes in Iowa. He was a leader on numerous committees and a friend among his colleagues in ministry in the Des Moines Presbytery.

Lynn served proudly as a chaplain in the Iowa National Guard for 21 years. He was initially assigned to the 209th Medical Battalion in Iowa City before transferring to Camp Dodge in Johnston. While at Camp Dodge he served as chaplain to the 134th Service and Support Battalion, the 185th Service and Support Battalion, the State Area Command headquarters, and the 734th Maintenance Battalion. He supported the deployment of Iowa National Guard troops to Desert Storm and participated in the Team Spirit Exercise in South Korea in 1989 before retiring in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Ret).

Lynn was a Kiwanian and a Mason. He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Creston and was a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Brooklyn. After retiring from parish ministry, he served as chaplain at Calvin Community.

Lynn loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Minnesota Vikings, football season, cheesy movies, mediocre restaurants, fishing, cribbage, and his family. He especially adored his grandchildren. Lynn is survived by his wife Lois; children Mike (Lily Santoro) of Sikeston, MO, Nathan (Leanne) of Des Moines, Wendi (Andrew) Lear of Des Moines, and Roger (Tracy) Wolfe of Macksburg; grandchildren Zachary Lear, Ian and Ben Williams, and Alexander and Ava Wolfe; siblings Doug (Randi) of Columbus, NE, Carolyn (Tom Stackland) of Duluth, MN, Kate Stangl of Crosslake, MN, Dwight (Carol) of Omaha, NE; cousins, nieces, nephews, and good friends.

The family would especially like to thank Dan Anderson, Calvin Community, and UnityPoint Hospice for their care and support during Lynn’s battle with dementia. A Celebration of Life will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14 at at Union Park Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. A committal service with full military honors will be held 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 13 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Union Park Presbyterian Church, 1307 Thompson Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50316. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Union Park Presbyterian Church. Floral tributes may be delivered to Iles Dunn’s Chapel, 2121 Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50312.

Online condolences will be welcomed at IlesCares.co