William H. “Bill” Recker

William H. “Bill” Recker, 79, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at the V.A. Medical Center, Iowa City, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Hopkinton, where friends may call from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and after 9:30 a.m. Thursday. A parish vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Father John Kremer will officiate at the services. Interment will be in the Hopkinton Cemetery, with military honors. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello, is in charge of the arrangements.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hopkinton Veterans Memorial Fund or a charity of choice.

Surviving is his wife, Joanne; four children, Mark Recker, Robert (Diane) Recker, William J. (Carma) Recker all of Hopkinton and Lynne (John) Frandson of Parker, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Angie (Parker) Lazenby, Cody Recker, Bryan (Carly) Recker, Brittany (Sean) Steffen, Brett and Breanna Recker and Tera and Toni Frandson; and five great-grandchildren, Morgan Lazenby and Keely, Lane, Ella and Braxton Recker; and a sister, Mary Jane Wolf of Delhi.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a stillborn.

William Henry Recker was born Aug. 18, 1933, near Hopkinton, Iowa. He was the son of Cyril and Anna Heims Recker. He received his education in the rural schools near Prairieburg and Worthington. Bill started farming with his parents. Bill went on to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. He married Joanne Gavin on July 7, 1954, at St. Peters Catholic Church, Temple Hill. Following his return from military duty, the couple farmed in the Ryan and Buck Creek area. He retired from active farming in 2010.

He was a member of St. Lukes Catholic Church, the Hopkinton American Legion and a life member of the D.A.V.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 22, 2013.