William 'Bill' D. Schmillen

William D. 'Bill' Schmillen, the son of Thomas and Alyce (Ryan) Schmillen was born on June 11, 1924, in Fairbank, IA. In 1929, his family moved to Cherokee, IA where he attended grade school and high school at Immaculate Conception School, graduating in 1941. He also took an accounting course. On April 14, 1951, Bill was united in marriage to Bibiana 'Bibs' Vanis at St. Mary's Church in David City, NE. They raised seven children, had 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Bill worked for the Cherokee Implement Co. for 20 years, managed Cherokee Cold Storage Co. for 7 years, and worked for Bushlow Implement Co. for 4 years. He was forced to retire due to poor health in 1976. Bill was a member of Immaculate Conception Church from age 10. He volunteered as secretary for the church and rectory for 20 years, but had to discontinue his volunteer work following open heart surgery in 1997. He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved being with family and friends and looked forward to the annual family reunion. He enjoyed reading, computer and TV, and especially loved spending time watching sports. Bill always enjoyed celebrating weddings, baptisms, first communions and graduations with his children and grandchildren. All of his grandchildren looked to him as a role model of good faith, supporting of one another, loving endlessly and always having a smile! Bill passed away at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee on Thursday, January 2, 2014, at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Alyce Schmillen; sisters: Marie (Emil) Anderson, Banny (Art) Blaker, and Arlyce Wiemold; brothers, Francis 'Bud' Schmillen, John (Adda) Schmillen, and Robert (Mildred) Schmillen. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bibs, of Cherokee, IA; his children: Jane (Dennis) Guletz of Breckenridge, CO, Jack (Coleen) Schmillen of Iowa City, IA, Bob (Cheryl) of Granite Falls, MN, Joe Schmillen of Cherokee, IA, Julie (Dan) Martin of Madison, WI, Dave (Georgann) Schmillen of Spencer, IA, and Andy (Dana) Schmillen of Omaha, NE; one sister, Shirley Brickman of Denver, CO; brother-in-law, Eddie Wiemold of Cherokee, IA; 15 grandchildren: Matthew, David, Maribeth, Bai Zhu, Aaron (Sarah), Allison (Grant), Derek, Jackie, Andrew (Mari), Cristina, Breanna, Betsey, Anna, Drew, and John; two great-grandchildren, Noah and Owen; several nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends. Our family feels so very blessed to have had all the special years with my husband, our dad, grandpa and great-grandpa! He will be treasured in our hearts forever and will always be remembered as the heart and soul of our family-a true patriarch of the Schmillen home. We will love you forever! In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the CAP Food Pantry in Cherokee and the I.C. Catholic Church.

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