William Joseph HARRIS

HARRIS, DRURY, WYNN, CHASE, VOGE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2007 at 20:06:05

William Joseph Harris, 86, passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2007, at the Hampton Health Care Center, Hampton, Iowa. A memorial service will be held Monday, January 29, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. The family will be available before the service and at the lunch following the service. Inurnment will be at a later date. Linn's Funeral Homes in Iowa Falls is in charge of the arrangements.

Bill Harris was born January 16, 1921, in Iowa City and was later adopted by Stephen and Berth Harris of Iowa Falls. He attended country school through the eighth grade and then transferred for Iowa Falls High School, graduating in 1939. Bill attended State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and Iowa State University in Ames. His education was a lifelong pursuit manifested by his joyous intellectual curiosity. In 1941 Bill was working at Lockheed, a bomber assembly plant in Los Angeles, California. On November 24, 1941, Bill married Judith M. Drury of Dows, Iowa, in Hollywood, California. This sixty-five year marriage was blessed with three children: Stephen, Craig, and Anne. Bill was drafted while still living in California and served in the Philippines until the end of WWII. Upon his discharge he returned to his wife and son in Iowa Falls, where he farmed until 1956. Bill's genuine affection for farming formed his career as a farm realtor, appraiser, and manager from 1956 to 1986. Bill continued his farm management long into his retirement. Bill always believed in giving back to the community and as a result served on many boards and in leadership positions. Some of these were the Iowa Falls School Board, the Ellsworth College Board of Trustees, Iowa Falls State Bank Board of Directors, Iowa Falls Industrial Development, Toastmasters Club, and Lions Club. Bill was a fifty-year member of the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls, where he also served on various committees.

Besides his love of his family and community, Bill had a passion for traveling and took memorable trips with Judy to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa, among many others. He and Judy went to Broadway musicals, Des Moines Symphony concerts, and other fine art presentations. Bill's affection for Iowa's land and wildlife was part of his great appreciation for the world around him. Bill cherished several lifelong friendships and after retirement he had much fun with his coffee groups. He enjoyed many years of golf and was a loyal supporter of local and Hawkeye athletics.

Bill is survived by his wife Judy, his son Craig and wife Kristi Harris, daughter Anne and husband Pat Voge, all of Iowa Falls. He is also survived by his grandson Stephen Harris and wife Bonnie of Boise, Idaho, granddaughters Jocelyn Wynn and husband Mike of Des Moines, Meredith Chase and husband Dustin of Coralville, and Allison Voge of Chicago. Preceding Bill in death were his parents, two sisters, his son Stephen, and his grandchildren Patricia Anne and Daniel Harris Voge.

January 27, 2007
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