William “Bill” John Foley 1921 - 2015

FOLEY, MANN, KING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/9/2023 at 01:30:42

Sioux City Journal
7 September 2015

William Foley

QUIMBY, Iowa | William “Bill” John Foley, 94, of Quimby passed away Sunday, Sept. 5, 2015, at his residence in Quimby.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, Iowa. The Rev. Dan Guenther will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Anthon, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 7 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral. com.

William “Bill” John Foley was born April 27, 1921, to John S. Foley and Sarah Esther (Mann) Foley in Anthon, Iowa. Bill attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School from kindergarten to eighth grade in Anthon and graduated from Anthon High School in 1939. While in high school, Bill worked at the local grocery store in Anthon, and after high school he did construction work. On Aug. 26, 1942, Bill enlisted in the United States Army and served three and one- half years during World War II.

Bill was married to Geraldine “Jerry” King on Oct. 18, 1945, at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee. Shortly after their wedding, Bill and Jerry moved to Memphis, Tenn., until Bill’s discharge form the service on Jan. 16, 1946.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Bill went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad as a section foreman out of the Cherokee area. Bill worked for an extra gang on the railroad, so he and Jerry lived in a bunk car in Sioux Falls, S.D., until 1950. They later returned to Quimby to continue working on the railroad. Carrying on with his railroad career, Bill moved his family to Sioux City in 1952. In 1958, another move was made to Bronson, Iowa, where Bill purchased a farm and still stayed employed with Illinois Central. Another move was made in 1964 as Bill was transferred back to the Cherokee area. He sold their farm in Bronson and purchased a new farm in Quimby, Iowa. Bill retired from Illinois Central Railroad after 33 years.

Upon retiring, Bill and Jerry spent many winter months in Arizona. Bill was an avid snooker and card player. He won many tournaments in both. Bill also enjoyed reading and would make weekly trips to the Quimby Library and if a good book wasn’t found, he enjoyed the Reader’s Digest stories as well. Bill was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Quimby, where he served on the parish counsel and also served as a Eucharistic Minister.

Left to remember Bill are his wife of 69-plus years, Jerry; his children, Percy Nelson, Connie Hill, both of Quimby, Bev (Glen) Woltman of Cleghorn, Iowa, Jack (Juli) Foley and Bill (Carolyn) Foley, all of Quimby; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; his younger siblings, Jean Naber of Merrifield, Minn., and Phil (Pat) Foley of Springfield, Ill.; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and great- granddaughter, Faith Hill.