Obituary of William J. Bates

William J. "Bull" Bates, 73 of Iowa City died at his home, Tuesday, January 18, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 21, 2011, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. William James Bates was born February 14, 1937, in Waupun, Wisconsin, the son of Frank and Henrietta (Cunningham) Bates. His family moved to Iowa City, where he attended schools, graduating from City High School in 1956. He was united in marriage to Virginia K. Nelson on February 22, 1963. For many years Bull worked with the former Iowa - Illinois Gas & Electric Company, retiring in 1988. He was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing; and he loved auto racing. Many who knew Bull, knew his uncanny way of smoking everything he caught or shot, and more! His family includes his four children, Ruth Beemer (Tom Michel) of Tiffin; James Bates (Vicki Newell) of Wellman; John Bates of Iowa City; and Marnie Bates (Thomas "Treyvon" Clark) of Iowa City; 6 grandchildren, Dalton and Tim Beemer, Zacharey and Dakota Bates, and Trey and Kiara Beard; Bull's in-laws, Ruth and Willard "Curly" Walter of Iowa City. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and a sister, Betty Bremner.