Rufus Willey

Rufus Willey, 88, of Marshalltown, formerly of Ames, died Wednesday, April 6, at the MMSC. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Pastor Scott Lothe of the Hope United Methodist Church officiating. He will be laid to rest with full military honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Harry C. Harter Post #839. Visitation will be held from 2-4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A memorial fund is being established. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born on April 28, 1922, in Iowa City, Iowa, he and his twin brother Rupert were soon adopted into the loving care of Edna A. Willey. They grew up in the Chelsea Community and he graduated from the Chelsea High Schools Class of 1940 a class of six students!In December of 1942, Rufus enlisted in the United States Army and served our country honorably until receiving his honorable discharge in December of 1945. He was stationed in Alaska where the Japanese invasion was anticipated. Rufus was an MP and assisted many motorists on the Alaskan Highway while working there. He enjoyed his time in Alaska except when the weather would dip down to 60 below! On March 23, 1944, in Grundy Center, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Mardelle McCollister. They made their home at Toledo where he was truck driver and then, in 1947, started his lifelong career in the automobile industry. He began as a mechanic at Stein Motors, then to Twin City Ford as a service manager. He applied for a sales job in 1950 at the Cadillac Chevy dealer in Tama and was employed there until 1969 when he moved to Marshalltown to sell for Danskin Cadillac-Pontiac-GMC. All in all, Rufus was associated with Cadillac-Pontiac-Chevy for 50 years. Retirement didnt necessarily hold him, so he began working for his son, Ron Willey in Nevada and Ames for three years. Rufus truly loved his calling and dealing with people, antique cars, trips to Colorado, but most of all - his family. Left to celebrate his life are Mardelle, his loving wife of 67 years, five children: Ron (Sharon) Willey of Ames, Linda (Don) Ahrens of Grinnell, Jim (Debbie) Willey of Marshalltown, Mark (Phyllis) Willey of Dade City, FL., and Loren (Deanna) Willey of Cedar Rapids, 20 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a host of friends all who remember this well-dressed gentlemans never-ceasing smile. In death, Rufus rejoined his mother who died in 1951, his uncle Merle Brush, twin brother Rupert, grandson Steven Michael Ahrens and great-grandson Zachary Kyle Reneud.