William George Kamberg

Bill Kamberg died Monday, March 27, at Wesley Acres in Des Moines, IA. He was born to Willard C. and Lena Lee Kamberg in Kansas City, MO, on January 12, 1935. He graduated from the University of Kansas. After college, he served seven years in the Navy. He moved to Des Moines in 1968 to work for Princor (the mutual funds division of Principal), where he spent 25 years, retiring on December 31, 1993. He worked several full and part time jobs after retiring, most recently as office manager for Nostalgic Enterprises - an auto shop specializing in rebuilding Corvettes - where he was fondly known as “Mr. Bill.” He was a member of the Corvette Club of Iowa. He loved music and sang in church choir as a child, the University of Kansas Chorale, Drake University Community Chorus, and most recently with the Chancel Choir at Grace United Methodist Church, where he was a member for many years. He also played the trumpet and ukulele. A lifelong Boy Scout, Bill was an Eagle Scout and served as both Cubmaster and Scoutmaster of Troop 61. He was a recipient of the several awards including the Silver Beaver award and the Founders Award. He was a loyal member of the Order of the Arrow. Bill started jogging in 1972 and over the course of his life ran almost 40,000 miles. He ran – and finished – the Drake Marathon, Dam to Dam, WHAMM and several other local races. All who knew him will remember his love of bad jokes and good grammar. Bill touched many lives, including his children and other family members, foster children, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Grace United Methodist youth and choir members, and coworkers. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Kimberly. He is survived by his former spouse and friend, Alice Kamberg; his children Suzanne Kamberg, Shanna Drew, Leanne (Robert) Monk, Will (fiancée Bre Boheman) Kamberg, Elizabeth (Thomas) Kamberg Griebel; a granddaughter, Madeleine Kamberg, and a grandson, Saul Griebel; sister Betty Perkins, and brother Larry (Jean) Kamberg. A service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 3700 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA at 10:30 AM on Saturday Apr 1, 2017. Lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Grace United Methodist Church for the benefit of the Youth Fellowship.