Obituary of Wilfred apos;Bill&apos Rowland

Wilfred E. “Bill” Rowland, age 82, of 1506 First Avenue, Coralville, formerly longtime resident of 615 Dearborn Street, Iowa City, died Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a lengthy illness of Myelogenous Leukemia. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2003, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Paul Akin officiating. There will be a time of fellowship and refreshments following the services at the church. Memorial donations can be made in Bill’s memory to the First United Methodist Church or Sunrise Optimist Club of Iowa City. Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for Jefferson and Dubuque streets around the church, everyone is encouraged to park close to the church. Bill was born April 1, 1921, in Fort Madison, Iowa the son of George and Inez (Lunsford) Rowland. Following graduation from Fort Madison High School, he enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. He served in the 14th.Armored Division stationed in Austria and France. On July 2, 1950, he married Dorothy R. Holt at Ontario Country Church, Illinois. The couple made their home in Fort Madison after their marriage where Bill was employed by the Dupont Company. They moved to Iowa City a short time later where Bill was employed in the Urology Department of the University of Iowa Hospitals, then was associated with Nall Motors in Iowa City and for a short time sold insurance in Johnson and Iowa counties. Following this, he was employed by Kirwan Furniture in Iowa City as a salesperson and interior decorator, retiring in 1986 after thirty-five years of service. During his retirement, he enjoyed dabbling in antiques. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, and active member of the Sunrise Optimist Club in Iowa City where he held several positions of leadership. Bill helped organize the “Pals” program, which later became the “Big Brothers & Big Sisters” program in this area. His family includes his wife, three nephews, Richard and his wife, Jan Rodgers of Peoria, IL, David Rodgers of Peoria, and Ken Rodgers of Moline, IL; one grand niece, Kirsten Rodgers of Rockford, IL, and two grandnephews, Jay Rodgers of Peoria and Chip Rodgers of Moline. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Elizabeth Rodgers; and a grandnephew, Jeffrey Rodgers.