Obituary of Bill Vezina

William Reuben (Bill) Vezina, Jr. was born in Dooley, MT on August 7, 1915 the son of William R. and Phi Bernice (Clayton) Vezina. After the family homesteaded in Montana, they moved back to St. Croix Falls, WI, where he attended elementary and high school and excelled in sports including hockey and football. Billy, as he was known in school received an athletic scholarship upon graduation from high school. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Bill and his wife Doris Carolyn Kelley met at the University and were married on July 3, 1937. The couple moved to Hartley, IA in 1937 and began their lifelong careers as publishers of the Hartley Sentinel. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 3, 1944 and left Des Moines for training at Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. In August of 1944 he transferred to the Naval Hospital School in San Diego, CA. He graduated from the United States naval Corps, Long Beach, CA in October 1944. In January 1945 Bill was assigned to the ship USS Girad. In August 1945 he returned to the U.S. to begin Officers Training School at Colgate University in New York. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1945 with the rank of Pharmacist Mate Third Class. He returned to Hartley and with his wife, they continued to run the newspaper. He was a member of long standing of the American Legion of Hartley and was Commander of the Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288 for several years. Bill enjoyed his many years serving on Hartley’s Park Board. He was instrumental in flooding of Ice Skating arenas and in the construction of tennis courts. Bill was active in his local church, the Trinity United Church of Christ since 1937. He was a life long member of the Hartley Chamber of Commerce. In March of 2008 Bill and Doris moved to Crestview Acres Nursing Home in Marion, IA. Bill passed away on July 2, 2009 at the Mercy Hospital Hospice House in Cedar Rapids, IA at the age of 93. Bill and Doris would have celebrated their 73rd Wedding Anniversary on July 3, 2009. Bill was honored by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a Master-Editor Publisher in 1983. This was an honor he shared with his wife Doris and daughter and son-in-law, Billie and Edward Robinson. He was especially proud that the newspaper is still family owned by his son-in-law, Ed and grandson, William. He was a member of the board of Northwest Iowa Publishers and one of the co-founders of the Northwest Iowa Peach. He also served as President of the Iowa Press Association. He is survived by his daughter: Carolyn Kay Wilson of Nocona, TX, son, Kelley John Vezina and his wife, Mary, of Cedar Rapids, IA; son-in-law Edward Robinson of Hartley, IA; four granddaughters: Suzanne (Richard) Young of Irmo, SC, Stephanie (Douglas) Irvin of Nocona, TX, Lorie (Donald) Benjamin, of Hays, KS, and Cassandra Jandreau of Maryland; a grandson: William Robinson of Hartley, IA; eight great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren; a brother Howard Vezina of St. Croix Falls, WI; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bill was preceeded in death by his parents, wife Doris on October 30, 2008, daughter Billie Suzanne Robinson on September 30, 2007; an infant grandson, Andrew Robinson; son-in-law, James A. Wilson; great grandson Dillon Eischied; brother and sister-in-law, Benjamin and Rosemary Vezina, brother, Arthur John (Jack) Vezina, an infant brother, Dickie; sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth (Betty) and Merle Chambers; sister-in-law Phyllis Vezina; brother-in-law and sister-in law, Richard and Carolyn Hines; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, William and Barbara Kelley; brother-in-law, Louis Kelley and his in-laws, William and Anola Kelley. A Celebration of Life William R. Vezina, Jr. Born ~ August 7, 1915 Died ~ July 2, 2009 Age ~ 93 years 10 months 25 days Funeral Service 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2009 Hartley Funeral Home Chapel Hartley, Iowa Officiating ~ Rev. Jeff Filkins Organist ~ Julie Back Soloist ~ Rev. Jeff Filkins “The Old Rugged Cross” “They know We Are Christians, By Our Love” Congregational Singing Processional ~ “Just As I Am” Recessional ~ “In The Garden” Pallbearers Nicholas Eischeid William Robinson Christopher Eischied Ronald A. Colling Donald Benjamin Douglas Irvin Honorary Pallbearers Clayton Pyle Mike Petersen Interment Pleasant View Cemetery Hartley, Iowa Military graveside rites by Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288 Hartley, Iowa