William "Bill" Stolzman

William “Bill” Earl Stolzman, age 84, of Marshalltown, passed away Sunday night, August 8, 2021 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 12 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Henry Catholic Church, 211 W. Olive St., Marshalltown. A luncheon will take place after the service, followed by burial rites at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Rhodes. For those unable to attend, the service will be available to view on the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ . Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 11 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown with a 7:00 P.M. vigil service. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for later designation. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.         Born February 14, 1937 in a farm house near Laurel, he was the son of Harry and Bernadine Elizabeth (Kopel) Stolzman. Growing up on the farm, he enjoyed helping his dad and fishing Linn Creek. He attended school in Lamoille, Haverhill and Van Cleve, where he played baseball and basketball and graduated in 1955. On November 26, 1956, Bill joined the United States Army, honorably serving his country for two years. He completed basic training in Fort Chaffey, Arkansas before being stationed in Fort Rucker, Alabama and Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. In 1959, Bill returned home to farm his family’s land. Later that same year, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Klaas at Forest Park Dance Hall. They were united in marriage on September 15, 1962 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Haverhill. Together they first made their home in Haverhill, then north of Marshalltown before settling down at their place south of Marshalltown. They enjoyed 58 years of marital bliss. A hard and dedicated worker, Bill continued farming through this spring’s planting season. Bill was an active member of the St. Francis Parish, attending at St. Henry’s Church and serving on the finance council and the building and grounds committee at St. Mary’s. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Farm Bureau, as well as the American Legion. Bill loved classic Chevy cars, especially his original 1967 Cheville Super Sport and his 1957 Nomad. He enjoyed playing card games with friends and family, especially enjoying the New Year’s Eve get-togethers with the Goodman family. He loved the 4th of July and setting off fireworks. Bill and Dorothy enjoyed annual family vacations to Lake Okoboji, where he loved driving go carts, batting cages, miniature golf and the Nutty Bar stand. This year’s trip marked the 50th year of this family tradition. Though Bill’s passing was unexpected, his family finds great comfort in knowing he passed in a place that he loved with the people he loved most. Bill and Dorothy were blessed with six children: Deanna (Edward) Schmidt of Baxter and their children: Jamie, Marcus (Shelby) and Sydney; Marlene (Randy) Bieghler of Grimes and their children: Kane, Kyle and Kayla, remembering Benjamin and Caitlyn who have passed; Gary John Stolzman, who passed away in 1968 at 17 months of age; Lisa (Nathan) Apprill of West Des Moines with their children: Colin, Lauren and Ethan; Marcia (Jeffrey) Vettel of Rochester, MN and their sons: Noah and Myles; and Rod (Laura) Stolzman and their daughters: Holly and Devinny of Marshalltown. He is also survived by his siblings: Joyce (Melvin) Stalzer of Zearing, Lyle (Jacky) Stolzman of Conrad, M. Jean (Tom) Ronnfeldt of Minneapolis, MN and Jolene “Jody” (Bob) Rosenbalm of Melbourne; brother-in-law, Leo (Sue) Klaas of Melbourne and numerous cousins, other family and friends. In death, Bill is reunited with his beloved Dorothy, who died in April of this year; his parents; son, Gary John, who passed in 1968 at only 17 months old; and his grandchildren in infancy, Benjamin and Caitlyn Bieghler.