William J. TATE

TATE, MOURLAM, CHELSVIG, BROWN, HOEPPNER, LYONS, TINKEN, CAMERON, DORMAN, SIDDIG, HUNTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/15/2009 at 10:42:04

December 15, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

William "Bill" J. Tate, 77, of 8583 Fox Hills Rd., Agency, died at 7:53 a.m. December 14, 2009 at Hospice House in Ottumwa. He was born September 27, 1932 in Hadley, MN to John and Luella Brown Tate. He married Mary Lou Hoeppner November 23, 1953 in Webster City, IA. A graduate of Webster City High School, he served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He had worked at Hormel Food in Ft. Dodge for 23 years, where he was president of the union. A resident of Ottumwa since 1982, he worked for Excel for 7 years, retiring in 1994. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, where he served on the RCIA team and was an usher. Bill was also a lifetime member of Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as Director of Veterans Affairs for Wapello County for 4 years. An avid golfer, he was a member at Harvest Point Golf Course in Oskaloosa.

Surviving is his wife, Mary Lou; three sons, Brian Tate of Agency, Chris (Sue) Tate of Humboldt, and Kreg Tate of Kirksville, MO; a daughter, Cheri (Terry) Lyons of Clarion; 4 grandchildren, Lee (Angie) Cameron, Amy (Travis) Tinken, Brady Lyons, Kinsey Dorman; 8 great-grandchildren, Brennon and Kaylee Cameron, Whitney, Chelsey and Cameron Tinken, Aysa Lyons, Kayleigh Dorman and Delaney Siddig; a brother, Dan (Jenny) Tate of Somerset, WI; two sisters, Mary Hammitt of Middleberg, FL, Marcella (Virgil) Mourlam of Woolstock; a brother-in-law, Tom Chelesvig of Webster City. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Tom Tate; a sister, Patricia Chelesvig; a nephew, Terry Hunter; a niece, Rebecca Tate. His body has been cremated.

Memorial Mass will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ottumwa with Father John Spiegel presiding. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.