Emerson, William A. -- 1920 - 2000

WILEY, EMERSON, ECKHART, GEE, ESTBY

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/29/2010 at 20:17:35

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, August 15, 2000

William Emerson

William A. Emerson, 79, of Decorah, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2000, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah following a short illness.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m., at Decorah Lutheran Church, with the Rev. James Glesne and Ole Winter officiating.

Kathy Murray will be the organist. Congregational hymns will include "The Lord's My Shepherd," "Rock of Ages" and "How Great Thou Art." The Fjelstul Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Private family burial will be held at Phelps Cemetery.

William Emerson was born in Cedar Rapids Oct. 20, 1920, the son of Ward and Gladys (Wiley) Emerson. He was a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Petty Officer 3rd Class.

William was married to Patricia Ann Eckhart Oct. 24, 1942, in Marion, Ark.

He worked for Standard Battery & Electric Co. as a salesman for over 30 years. He then worked for the Luther College Security Dept. for several years.

William had been a resident of the Decorah area for more than 50 years. He enjoyed golf and fishing. He was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church.

He also held life memberships in both the American Legion and Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. William was a former member of the Elks Club, Silvercrest Golf & Country Club, and Oneota Golf & Country Club.

Survivors include one son Mike and Marilyn Emerson of Cedar Rapids, one daughter, Pam and Phil Gee of Vicksburg, Miss.; and six grandchildren, Annie Emerson-Battien (Mike Battien) of Cedar Rapids, Jill Sire (Devin Sires) of West Des Moines, Dale Emerson of Cedar Rapids, Chris Gee (Julie Gee) of Richmond, Va., Scott Gee of Atlanta, Ga., and Cathy Bates (Chris Bates) of Ridgeland, Miss.; two great-grandchildren, Michael Gee of Richmond, Va., and Anna Catherine Bates of Ridgeland, Miss.; one brother Duane Emerson of Decorah; and an aunt Marjorie Estby of Cedar Rapids.

William Emerson was, preceded in death by his parents and his wife Patricia, who died June 22, 1982.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.