John William ("Bill") Waters (1928-2014)

WATERS, HEENEY, RICHEY, FLATHERS, ARATANI, DAVIS, TORMEY, SCHULZ

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 6/15/2014 at 19:58:13

From Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

John William ("Bill") Waters, 86, of Ames, died May 10, 2014 in Sun City, Arizona. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 31, at 10:30am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave., with burial to follow at Ames Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, from 5 to 7pm with a vigil service to follow at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
Bill was born January 9, 1928, in St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, to Anthony Joseph and Mary Heeney Waters. Bill was the third of six children. Bill attended St. Lawrence Catholic School in Carroll and graduated from Carroll High School in 1946. While in high school he excelled at sports, especially football. Bill was honored to be named to the Iowa All State Second Team as a guard. On August 7, 1946, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for eighteen months before being honorably discharged. He attended Regis College in Denver, Colorado for two years before he transferred to and graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, with a bachelors degree in Business Administration.

Bill and Betty Richey were married on August 8, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Bill worked for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company for ten years in various positions in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, before being promoted to store manager in Burlington, Iowa. In 1961, he purchased a Firestone dealership in Ames, Iowa.

Bill was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ames Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Elks Club and Ames Golf and Country Club. Bill enjoyed his coffee group, golf and Iowa State Athletics. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren in their various musical, sports and other activities. He said that one of the best decisions he and Betty made was to move to Ames, a wonderful place to raise a family. Bill was so grateful for all the blessings in his life. He loved his family and treasured friends. He always said "we have so much to be thankful for".

Bill is survived by his wife of more than sixty years, Betty; one son, Jeff (Carol) of San Diego, California; four daughters, Joan Waters of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Julia (Tim) Flathers of Bemidji, Minnesota, Deb Aratani of Littleton, Colorado; Amy (Terry) Davis of Parker, Colorado; twelve grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Tormey of Spokane, Washington, Ann (Norm) Schulz of Carroll, sister in law Mary (Howard A. "Skip") Richey, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Joseph, James and Daniel; two sisters-in-law Mary (Joseph)Waters and Lois (James) Waters and two brothers-in-law, William Tormey and Skip Richey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. or St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

http://www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com/
 

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