William L Wilson

William Leland Wilson was born January 2, 1934, Kingsley, IA the son of Dallas and Vonda (Ledgerwood) Wilson.  He married Maureen Turkington on May 13, 1961 in Sioux City, IA.  Four children were born to this union.  On June 7, 2001 he married Marilyn Olsen in Kingsley, IA.  Bill graduated from Central High School in Sioux City, IA in 1954.  He worked for IPS as a specialized gas serviceman going to work for the IBEW Local 189 where he worked as a business agent until he retired in 1996.  Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1956 serving in Korea until he was honorably discharge as a private first class.  He was a member of the North Riverside Masonic Lodge # 662, serving as Worshipful Master, he was a volunteer for the Democratic Party of Iowa which included a proud moment driving Bill Clinton as a presidential candidate, he volunteered for United Way, also was a Board member of Food Bank of Siouxland.  Bill was a SBDC member, NW Labor Council Hall of Fame and a member of Habitat for Humanity. 

Bill was a family man who was very civic minded always being involved with the community he was living in, his nickname was “Whistling Willy Wilson” because was always whistling.  He adored all his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, loved watching “war movies” and the Green Bay Packers.

He is survived by his children, son, Brian (Jen) Wilson of Rogers, MN, and their children Brooke, Blake, Bret, and Jenna, daughter, Dawn Wilson of LeMars, IA, and her children, Jeffrey and Jesse;  son, Bill (Anita) Wilson, Rochester, MN, and their children, Josie and Garrett, son, Mark (Rebecca) Wilson, Sioux City, IA, and their children, Reed, Liam, Clark, Gianna, Lucy and George. Bill also is survived by seven great- grandchildren.  Also surviving is his wife, Marilyn, Bill’s stepson Ron Ruhrer and two stepdaughters, Rhonda (Tim) Bigham and Robyn (Bruce) Sander, 8 step-grandchildren, 23 step-great-grandchildren, and 1 step-great-great grandchild, and a sister, Juanita “Sis”.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, one stepson and step-daughter-in-law.

Memorials may be directed to the Food Bank of Siouxland or Habitat for Humanity.