Rawson, H.L. 'Bill'

H.L. “Bill” Rawson, 85, of Palo, died Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. today at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Masonic service: 7 tonight at the funeral home, where everyone is welcome. Burial: Spring Grove Cemetery, Covington.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores; children, Thomas (Cathy) Rawson of Cedar Rapids, Richard (Janice) Rawson of Amana, Janet (John) Metcalfe of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and Nancy Rawson (Tim King) of Cedar Rapids; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four stepchildren, Robert (Pat) Denson of Ankeny, Morris (Jutta) Denson of Marengo, Marian Wetjen of Cedar Rapids and Ellen McVey of Midland, Mich.; seven stepgrandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; sisters, Arnolia Schmorr of Tulsa, Okla., Norma (Wayne) McVay of Palo, Ada Waterhouse Olmsted of Cedar Rapids and Chris (Cal) Moore of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Weir Nelson of Ely; and sister-in-law, Carol (Frank) Sopousek of Cedar Rapids.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty; sister, Nadine Nelson; several half siblings; stepson, Neil Denson; and stepson-in-law, Jim McVey.

Born Oct. 9, 1924, in Cedar Rapids, Bill was the son of Martin and Arnolia (West) Rawson. He attended Stony Point School and graduated from Roosevelt High School with the class of 1942. On April 25, 1945, he was united in marriage to Betty. She died in 1996. Bill married Dolores Denson in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 16, 1997. Bill was self-employed as a milk hauler.

Bill was a member of Covington Church, the Fidelitas Lodge No. 364 AF&AM, Eastern Star, the Spring Grove Cemetery Board and was a Hospital Dad transporting ill children to Shriners Hospitals.

Bill was very talented. He loved woodworking and giving things away for others to enjoy. He was a great problem solver and could fix anything, including any type of electronics and machinery. Bill was a very generous, gentle, caring soul. He enjoyed gardening, bird watching and Wednesday night auctions.

He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Please sign the online guest book for Bill at  under obituaries.