William Bernard DEGEN

DEGEN, SCHILMOELLER, SIMONS, BJUSTROM, DORWEILER, KEMERY, RHOADS, GOFF, LOMBARDO, FUCHSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/12/2016 at 23:45:36

June 24, 1928 --- April 16, 2014

William Bernard Degen was born June 24, 1928, in Geddes, South Dakota, the son of Henry and Elisabeth (Schilmoeller) Degen. At a young age his family moved to Iowa [Eagle Grove] and eventually settled in Granville. Bill attended school and graduated from St. Joseph High School in Granville in 1946. Bill later served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in October of 1954.

On January 28, 1956, Bill was united in marriage to Anita Simons at St. Cecelia Catholic Church. After their marriage, Bill worked for Everds Brothers for 28 years. He later worked for Dole Construction, Wayne Hansen Construction and most recently for Kossuth County mowing ditches.

Bill enjoyed the time he was able to spend with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed driving his old Oliver 60 tractor in parades, as well as, reading, following NASCAR, going for coffee at Hy-Vee and farming. Bill was a member of the Knights of Columbus, VFW and American Legion of Algona and in May of 2013 was able to go on the Honor Flight.

Bill died Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. He was 85. He is survived by his wife, Anita of Algona; children, Michael (Roseann) Degen of St. Helens, OR; Ronald (Linda) Degen of West Des Moines; Carolyn (Larry) Bjustrom of Eldridge; Diane (Ray) Dorweiler of Chandler, AZ; Donna (Michael) Kemery of Clearfield; Joseph (Kendra) Degen of Algona; James Degen and fiancé Sandy Rhoads of Clearwater, FL; 20 grandchildren; 14, great-grandchildren; a sister, Florence Goff of Sioux City; a brother, Reverend Jerome Degen of Fort Dodge; sisters-in- law, Virginia, Camilla and Ann Degen. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Timothy; three brothers, Leonard, Robert and Donald Degen; two sisters, Esther Lombardo and Marion Fuchsen; three brothers-in-law, Vince Lombardo, Lester "Sport" Fuchsen and James Goff.

Service ---- Saturday, April 19, 2014 -- 11:00 AM
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 723 E. North St., Algona, Iowa

Interment -- Calvary Cemetery ~ Algona, Iowa

http://www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com/obituary/124211/William-Degen/