Obituary of Bill Fitzwater

Funeral services for Bill Fitzwater, 86 of Villisca, will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, November 18, 2018 at Advent Christian Church with interment at Nodaway Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday 5:30 to 7 p.m.at Wolfe Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Advent Christian Church or Good Samaritan Society. Billie Bruce Fitzwater was born on September 11, 1932 in Oak, Nebraska. He was the fourth of ten children born to Cecil and Erna. He attended Antelope School, a rural school near Oak. In the third grade he changed to Brown School. In 1944 Bill moved with his family to Strahan, Iowa, where he was Valedictorian of his graduating class in 1950. This is also where he met his future wife, Chlorina Nadine Monk. Bill and Chlorina were united in marriage on August 20, 1951 and were blessed with five children: Steven Lee, Skip Lee, Joe Lynn, Bruce Warren and Peggy Lee. After their marriage in Braymer, Missouri they farmed for a year before moving to Wheatland, California. In 1952 Bill was drafted into the United States Army and began training in Fort Bliss, Texas. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1955 they purchased 120 acres in Saldwell County, Missouri where they had dairy cattle and farmed. In 1959 the Fitzwater family moved to a 40-acre farm in Adams County, Iowa where they raised hogs, cattle and farmed. That same year Bill began working for Community Gas Company in Villisca, Iowa. In 1963 Bill began his 34-year long career as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service and in 1964 they purchased the farm where they would raise their children and share many memories of farming. During those year both Bill and Chlorina worked with 4-H youth throughout southwest Iowa, helping preserve family farm values. They were also involved with the 4-H Labo Exchange student exchange program. In 1979 they received the 4-H International Award for contributing to world understanding and youth development through the 4-H International Program. For several years they continued to host adult Japanese guests because they enjoyed the cultural exchange. Bill was a member of the Villisca Advent Christian Church. When he wasn’t working Bill enjoyed anything antique—going to sales, refinishing or even looking through books of antiques. He loved the old country songs of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn and could never watch enough of the great western’s featuring the Duke. But most of all he enjoyed reminiscing with and about his family and the years that had passed by. Bill passed away Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Villisca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Erna; sisters June, Janice and Helen; brother Ronnie; son Steven; and a great granddaughter Nicole Ann Fitzwater. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Chlorina; brothers Larry, Tobe (Kay), and Don; sisters Betty, Lettie (Virgil) Weise; daughter-in-law Mary Ann Fitzwater; sons Skip (Mary Elizabeth), Joe (Theresa), Bruce and daughter Peggy; sixteen grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.