William Ebersole

William L. Ebersole of Marshalltown passed away with his wife and all his family at his side on Sunday morning September 6, 2009. William (Bill) Ebersole was born on February 5, 1935 to Paul and Elsie (Bowman) Ebersole in their farm home North of Toledo, Iowa with Dr. Charles Maplethorpe coming and staying at the home until Elsie delivered twins. William attended school at the Pleasant Run #1 Country School across the road from their farm home and graduated then with the Class of 1953 in Toledo, Iowa. William went to work for Kiowa Corporation for a summer job and continued there as the longest employee of 43 years employed there and retiring in 1999. After retirement he worked part time at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens as Grounds Keeper. He loved the outdoors and took pride in his mowing the grounds, planting all the flower beds for everyone to enjoy. He retired from there in October of 2007. William was united in marriage on June 10, 1966 to Avonelle (Smith) Ebersole in Marshalltown and they have lived in the same home that Avonelles late father, Herbert Smith, built for them 43 years ago. William is survived by his loving wife and soul mate Avonelle and his three children. Lillian (Mike) Schroeder, Marshall, Minnesota, Timothy Ebersole, Marshalltown, Rodney (Michelle Stalzer) Ebersole, Grant, Colorado. He has 5 grandchildren, sandi Forsythe, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Scott Schroeder of Marshall, Minnesota and Randi (Nick) Millsap of Madrid, Iowa, Jessica and Jamie Ebersole, Surrogate grandchildren, Philip (Kate) Hemming of Pella, Iowa and Sarah (Joe) Hemming-Meyer of Monroe, Iowa. William has 7 great-grandchildren, TRIPLETS, Kyla, Jameson and Sullivan Forsythe of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Austin and Allison Millsap of Madrid, Iowa and Parker and Palmer Hemming of Pella, Iowa. William is survived by his twin sister Mary Ann (Jerry) Ross of Toledo, Iowa and many nieces and nephews and dear cousins, also his sister in laws LaVonne (Laurence) Stover and Anita Elmore. William is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Venetta (Ben) Records in 2000 in Oceanside, California, his father and mother-in-law, and brother-in-law Bill Elmore. Bill and Avonelle traveled and loved to spend time at a cabin in Green Lake, Minnesota and Paynesville, Minnesota each year with the Schroeder family and their extended families, fishing, boating and having a good time. Bean Bag was one of Bills favorite games at the lake. He loved to fish and traveled to Canada fishing on several occasions with family and friends. His love for the outdoors was important to him as he loved to garden, raise flowers, his yard, feed the many birds and watching the deer from our patio. Bill and Avonelle wintered in Harlingen, Texas for 6 years and enjoyed all the many friends that we have made at Lakewood RV Park of which he was active in the Bike Club, Church, Mission Trips, board games and going to Mexico and all the friends we have made there. Bill was very active and a Charter Member in the Marshalltown Evening Lions Club, Bill received the Warren Coleman Award, the highest honor given to a Lion. He was also chosen as the Lion of the year for all the work he has done for the Lions Club which he was proud to hang on our wall in our home. He enjoyed the Tuesday and Thursday Coffee Group at the First Baptist Church which he hated to have to miss. The fellows took bus trips, day trips and just the fellowship of the men he so enjoyed. He enjoyed a coffee group at Hardees also. Bill was an active member of the First Baptist Church of where the services will be held with visitation on Tuesday evening, September 8th at 700 East Olive Street from 6-8:30 p.m. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9th at the First Baptist Church with a private family burial preceding the services. A lunch will follow the Memorial Services at the church. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family. Ph 641-844-1234. A memorial fund has been established and may be directed to the family of William, in care of Avonelle Ebersole.