Archie Marion WILLARD

WILLARD, JOHNSON, MILLER, WEST, HARRIGAN, TOMEI, WIEMERSLAGE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/3/2017 at 07:28:46

August 22, 1930 ---- February 25, 2017

Archie Marion Willard, 86, of Eagle Grove, passed away just before midnight on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at Hospice of the Valley, Lund Home in Gilbert, Arizona. Archie suffered a severe stroke on January 27, 2017, while spending the winter in Mesa, Arizona. Despite a valiant effort at rehabilitation, he was never able to fully recover and was transitioned to hospice care on February 24, 2017.

Archie was born on August 22, 1930, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the son of Archie Willard and Vernita Miller. He married Wanda Lou Johnson on April 2, 1966 in Faribault, Minnesota. Archie was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Willard, and his parents. He is survived by one daughter, Kelli (Rich) West of DeForest, Wisconsin; two grandchildren, Willard West and Rachael West, also of DeForest; one sister, Arline Harrigan, of Mission Hills, California, and companion, Barbara Tomei, of Mesa, Arizona.

Archie was a 1949 graduate of Eagle Grove High School. He attended Buena Vista College, where he played football and baseball. He worked at the Hormel Packing Plant in Fort Dodge for 31 years. He served two terms on the Eagle Grove city council. After retiring, he worked part time as a school bus driver, crop hail adjuster and adult education recruiter. Archie learned to read for the first time at the age of 54 due to a previously undiagnosed case of dyslexia. After studying several years with a beloved tutor, Archie made learning disabilities and adult literacy the major cause of his life. He was an effective advocate and a sought-after speaker throughout the years at professional conferences and adult learner meetings all across the United States. As a champion for individuals with "learning differences," he encouraged parents and educators to collaborate on the needs of school children. In 2014, Archie and co-author Colleen Wiemerslage shared his personal story with publication of "Last Reader Standing." Without question, the world better understands the plight of dyslexics because of Archie's work and dedication.

Archie also was a huge fan of Iowa Hawkeyes sports. He and his wife Wanda enjoyed traveling, and spent winters in Virginia and Arizona in retirement. After the death of his wife, he enjoyed companionship with Barbara during winters in Arizona.

Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Eagle Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jason Cooper officiating. Visitation will be at 12:00 noon prior to services. Burial will be in East Ullensvang Cemetery in Thor, Iowa. The family requested that memorials be made in Archie's memory, which will be used to distribute copies of "Last Reader Standing" to adult education agencies and prison libraries in Iowa, Arizona and Wisconsin.

Foust Funeral Home -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
http://hosting-24983.tributes.com/obituary/read/Archie-M.-Willard-104523589