Saunders, William B.

William B. Saunders died at noon Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, while he was being attended by staff at the Chandler Regional Hospital, with his family at his side, in Arizona.

He was born July 12, 1931, in Dubuque, Iowa. At age 3 he moved with his parents and older sisters Helen and Jean to Cedar Rapids. Soon after he gained a younger brother Jim and sister Mary Anne. He was preceded in death by Helen.

William graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1949 and soon after entered the Navy for four years. He spent a great deal of this time in Japan.

William and Mary Ellen Donohoe, of Parnell, Iowa, were married in 1954. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1981. They had four children who are all now married with children. The oldest is son Mike, wife Merilu, son Billy, and daughter Katrina, who recently married Tim Harrold, who all reside in Arizona. Son Steve, wife Erin, daughters Ariel and Kaitlyn live in Colorado. Son Alan, wife Valerie, daughter Emily, and Daughter Jennifer, married to Shad Kelly, daughter Morgann and son Miles - these two families live in Arizona.

William had a long career working for Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Co. in Cedar Rapids.

William and Dorothy Buffington Wiesley both attended a Roosevelt High School class reunion in 1984 and were married in 1985. William acquired two grown stepsons, Brad and Jeff Wiesley, both married with children and living in Colorado.

William's ashes will be buried during a gathering of family and friends at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at St. Joseph Cemetery just west of Cedar Rapids. (Go west on Highway 30 and before you get to Ced Rel turn north on Sisley Grove Road and up the hill.) Chaplain John R. Elliott will present the memorial service for William. Family and friends are invited. Those attending will be invited and welcome to join us for lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn.