William “Bill” Ferguson, age 87 of Hartley, IA, passed away at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on Sunday, January 5, 2013. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 9th at 1:30 p.m. at the Hartley United Methodist in Hartley. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church with the family present at that time. The Hartley Funeral Home in Hartley is in charge of the arrangements for 87 year-old William “Bill” Ferguson of Hartley, IA.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.sanborn-hartleyfuneralhomes.com
William Clair Ferguson, the son of William Earl and Charlotte Elizabeth (Singbush) Ferguson was born December 23, 1926 at Estherville, IA. Two sisters, Ruth and Joan and a brother, Tom completed the family. He attended school in the Estherville, IA area.
Bill served two years in the United States Army at Fort Riley, KS and Fort Lee, VA. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict. While returning from Korea, Bill’s unit stopped in Japan, where he purchased wedding rings for himself and his bride-to-be, Karleen Hargrave. Following his honorable discharge, Bill and Karleen were united in marriage on January 17, 1953 at Jackson, MN. To this union, five children were born. The couple made their home on a farm near Gillette Grove, IA, and then moved to a farm south of Dickens, IA. They relocated to a farm west of Hartley, IA in 1970 which is where they raised their family. In 1982, Bill and Karleen retired from farming and moved into the town of Hartley. He then went on to drive truck for Rohlin Construction Co. and later Dave’s Sand & Gravel. Bill passed away at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on January 5, 2014 at the age of 87.
Left to cherish his memory are his children and their families: Sherry (Wayne) Souer of Delta, IA, Stan (Sherrie) Ferguson of Charter Oak, IA, and Bob (Sheila) Ferguson of Bunnlevel, NC; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth Zelinsky of Terill, IA; sister-in-law, Arlene Hargrave of Dickens, IA; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceding Bill in death were his parents; wife Karleen of 54 years; two sons: William Michael Ferguson and Ben Thomas Ferguson; daughter-in-law, Janet Ferguson; sister, Joan (Harry) Hansen; brother, Tom (Nola) Ferguson; brother’s -in – law, Bill Hargrave; Wilbur Zelinsky and Fred “Bud” (Arlene) Hargrave
