William "Bill" Long

A service for William Willis Long will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Rev. Gary Freeland of the First Christian Church in Panora, Iowa and Mr. Bill Ridihalgh will be giving words of comfort. Music selected is Red Sails in The Sunset and Peace in The Valley. Virginia White is the pianist. Rev. Gary Freeland with also be doing The Lord's Prayer. Interment will take place at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa. William Willis Long, son of Arthur Long and Esther Reynolds Long, was born May 22, 1930 in Panora, Iowa and died September 5, 2014 at the Veterans' Home in Quincy. He was 84 years old. He was a Korean War vet. On February 14, 1954 William and Mary Alice Ridihalgh were united in marriage. They were blessed with two children Sally and Jack. The couple lived in Panora and William worked at Dave's Alexandra Plumbing until June of 1965. After that the family moved to Wheeling, Illinois. William worked in maintenance at the Randhurst Shopping Mall at Mount Prospect until he retired in 1994. He took care of his wife Mary Alice until she passed away in March 1995. In the spring of 2008 he moved to Zion, Illinois where his son lived. Every six months he would go to visit Sally and her family in Iowa. In March 2014 he moved to Illinois Veteran's Home in Quincy until he passed away. William loved to work in the yard, square dancing with his wife, and being with grandchildren. William is preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Alice, four sisters: Pauline Jergenson, Beaulah Peyton, Doris Wagaman, Barbara Wardlow, brother Ralph Long, niece Beverly Kingze, and nephew Doug Cave. He is survived by his daughter Sally Chapman (Don) of Murray, IA, son Jack Long (Theresa) of Zion, IL five grandchildren: Don W. Chapman, Teresa J. Chapman, Justin Long, Jessica Jackson (Damon) and Jacqulin Long and sister Ada Miller of Panora, IA, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. For flowers call Hartman 515 465 3539 the only local Florist