William P. Koenig Jr.

William P. Koenig Jr., age 91, of Gillett Grove, Iowa died on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. 

Farewell services will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 12:58 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. Burial will follow in the North Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Spencer. Visitation will take place prior to the service starting at 11:56 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shayla Bee Fund, Reins of Hope, or Pony Express Riders of Iowa. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

William “Bill” Paul Koenig, Jr. was born on July 19, 1927 to Ingrey and William Koenig Sr., in Blair, NE, where he spent his childhood with two brothers, George and Gerald. The family then moved to a farm in rural Ayrshire in 1943.     

He attended school and graduated in 1945 as a Gillett Grove Hilltopper.

Bill married Joan Martha O’Hearn on February 20, 1949. They purchased an acreage in Gillett Grove where they lived and farmed and raised six children: Steven Eugene, Deborah Ann, Martin Paul, Cynthia Ann, Randall Lee and Jeffrey Allan.

Bill purchased a ranch in Missouri in 1978 until the banker said it was time to move on.  At that time, he decided to drive truck and sell cars.  At one time, he was also the owner of a gas station, The Gillette Tap and the Ayrshire Bar.  He was a hard worker and did his own farming and custom work for others such as: combining, corn shelling, and plowing. Bill and Don Henley built a cornsheller in 1972 that could shell 2000 bushels per hour.  

Bill had many interests.  He was a school board member, bowler and dancer.  He was a singer who always sang along with the radio to Country Western music.  He enjoyed dancing at the VFW in Missouri and going to Good Time Country.  He enjoyed watching westerns; The Rifleman and Bonanza.  Bill was a card player; he taught the grandkids how to play 31 and Gin.

Those left to cherish Bill’s memory include children; Deb Meuth of Leoti, Kansas, Marty (Sue) Koenig of Sioux Rapids, IA, Cindy Koenig of Gillett Grove, IA, Randy (Rhonda) Koenig of Sioux Rapids, IA, Jeff (friend Vrenae Daly) Koenig of Gillett Grove, IA; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; brother, George Koenig of Ayrshire; and extended family and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; parents, Ingrey and William; brother, Gerald Koenig; son, Steven; son-in-law, Al Meuth; and daughter-in-law, Brenda Koenig.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shayla Bee Fund, Reins of Hope, or Pony Express Riders of Iowa.

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