William "Bill" Hulse 1951 - 2024

CLARY, HULSE, BREMER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 12/27/2024 at 21:32:27

Sioux City Journal
12 November 2024

William "Bill" Hulse, age 73, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at the Iowa Veterans Hospital, Des Moines, IA. He was surrounded by his family as he entered the glory of heaven and is now at peace with the Lord. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Moville with the Pastor Edgar Rodriguez officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior starting at 12:00 P.M. After the service, military rites will be presented at the Maxwell Remembrance Park (Pearl Street, Moville) with a luncheon to follow next door at the Moville Senior Center. Memorials may be directed to the Wink-Sparks Post 303, American Legion, in Moville, Iowa.

William, always known as "Bill" or "Willie", was born to Paul and Marian (Clary) Hulse on June 27, 1951 in Sioux City, Iowa. He was the sixth born in a family of seven brothers and sisters who were raised on a farm north of Moville. His mother died when Bill was six years old, so he and his siblings learned to work together and depend on each other as a family. Gathering eggs, milking cows, stacking hay, and planting crops instilled in Bill the lessons of hard work, the beauty of the land, and a love for farming.

After graduating from Woodbury Central High School, Bill was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He was proud to serve his country, and although he had orders to go to Germany, he told his commanding officer "Send me to Vietnam." He trained as a paratrooper and was eventually assigned to transport high-ranking officers between Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay.

In the summer of 1974, Bill persuaded a neighbor friend, Vicki, to go on a date. They married on May 20, 1978, after a fun and beautiful courtship. They made their home in Moville and added to their family two children, William Paul II (Billy) and Whitney. Bill worked hard as a farmer, raising hogs, starting a cow-calf operation, and planting and harvesting crops. His dream was to own his own farm, and this dream was realized when he was able to purchase the family farm from his dad's estate. Bill worked a second job at Knoepfler Chevrolet for over twenty years to help pay for that farm. After working a full day at the car dealership, he often came home to do farm chores by pickup headlights in the dark.

Bill instilled this strong work ethic and the closeness of family in his children. Before farm work, he always prioritized family meals at the dinner table and attending his children's events. Bill and Billy spent countless hours working together on the farm. When Billy joined the Air Force, his father was so proud of him for serving our country. Whitney, growing up as her dad's little princess, managed to escape a lot of farm work unless it involved driving the pickup. Bill's children became more like him in their adult years. As an avionics engineer and a school teacher, the lessons of hard work taught by their father were never far away. Bill and Billy enjoyed visiting about sports and the farm, and Bill and Whitney always connected about history, politics, and community service. Bill and Vicki enjoyed seeing movies and concerts, going out to eat, and socializing with friends. They shared a common goal of growing a strong family, supporting their community, and loving the land.

Being raised in the church, Bill felt at home as a member of New Hope Church in Moville. He always said he was closest to the Lord when contemplating life and looking after God's creation on the farm.

Community service was always an important part of Bill's life. He served as a director in the Woodbury County Farm Crisis Organization in the 1980s. He was also commander of his local legion, Wink-Sparks Post 303, in Moville for ten years. He freely volunteered his time to help bring so many community projects to fruition in Moville: Main Street Pavilion, community center and library, grocery store, Remembrance Park, and other beautification projects. He volunteered as an Arlington Cemetery trustee for many years until Parkinson's Disease no longer allowed him to fulfill this job. He also enjoyed helping neighbors on their farms at every opportunity.

Bill had many hobbies. Some of his favorite pastimes were going to farm sales and listening to Willie Nelson. He enjoyed all sports, especially wrestling. Bill could also be found relaxing in his recliner watching a Nascar race while wearing a cap or t-shirt representing his favorite drivers, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bill loved going to Nascar races with the Knoepfler gang and was able to experience live Nascar races with friends and his son at ten different racetracks.

Bill was known for the sparkle in his blue eyes and a smile that would light up a room. In his older years, he transitioned from "Wild Bill" to a quiet presence who relished spoiling the younger generation.

Bill was a fighter of Parkinson's Disease for fifteen years. He lived the last three years at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, where the staff took loving and patient care of him. Bill's family thanks all those who gave kindness and love to him during his illness. A special thank you goes to the staff members at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown and the Iowa Veterans Hospital in Des Moines. As a favorite resident, Bill gave as much joy and love to the staff as they gave to him.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Marian and Paul Hulse; parents-in-law Jack and Darlene (Smith) Bremer; brothers Rick and Bob; brother-in-law Bob Thomas, and sister-in-law Debbie Bremer.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Vicki; son Billy (Kim), daughter Whitney (Erhard), and a bonus daughter, Camila Palacios, who was gained through student exchange.

He is also survived by siblings Sally (Pete) Peterson, Rhoda (Bob Harpur), Al Hulse, and Liz Schintler; siblings-in-law Johnny Bremer and Sandy (Jeff) Hummel; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Arrangements are under the care of the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Moville.