William Yates

WILLIAM YATES

Cedar Rapids

William N. Yates, 86, of Lovilia, was called to Glory on June 1, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines due to injuries suffered in a fall. All seven of his children ushered him out of this world, surrounding him in love as his heart beat for the last time. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 5, at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Memorial services will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lovilia Community Center. Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown is assisting the family with arrangements.

A memorial has been establish in his name and may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.anderson fhs.com.

Our cherished father, Will, was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to William Henry Yates and Mae Ellen Yates. As a child he was very adventurous. He told many stories of visiting the "bums" on the railroad tracks during the Depression and playing down by the river. He thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with his dad. They built boats together, enjoyed outings into the woods and creating their own home brew. At 18, he left high school and joined the Army Air Force Reserve Hg 16th Airdrome Group Provisional as a heavy automotive equipment operator. He earned the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal Japan. He did his training at Fort Snelling in Minnesota before being deployed to Japan. At 20 years of age, he was honorably discharged from the military from Stoneman, Calif., as a private first class in the Air Force.

Upon his return to the United States he joined the Arborist division for the city of Cedar Rapids and worked his way up to foreman over a period of several years. He then moved to Missouri for a period of time before returning to Iowa.

It was during that time that he gave his life to Christ and became a new creature. This transformed him into an amazing man that touched many lives.

He was a passionate, hardworking, caring man. He loved his children with an unquenchable fire and did everything he could to make sure they were taken care of.

He had a great love for the outdoors. He enjoyed caring for dogs all his life. He took great pleasure in gardening, biking, flying and boating.

He was truly the rock of our lives and we were blessed to call him Dad. He taught us to be strong, to work hard, to "use the King's English," to trust in God's will, to love intensely and to not be afraid to rock the boat a bit (or a lot for some of us). He had great dreams for all of his children and wanted us to enjoy this life we've been given, for it is so short. He wanted us to know that it's never too late to turn around when you've gone down the wrong road.

These last several years were very difficult for him. The strokes took much from him and changed him radically, but we are glad he was here as long as he was. And now he is at peace.

Will is survived by his sister, Lorraine Yates of Cedar Rapids; his seven children, Dianna Yates of San Antonio, Texas, Lois Ann Yates of Cedar Rapids, Cindy (Lorraine) Fisher of Des Moines, David (Terry) Yates of Cedar Rapids, Michelle (James) Lane of Knoxville, Michael Yates of Lovilia and James Yates of Lovilia; nine grandchildren; five great-grand-children; and many beloved friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Henry Yates; his mother, Mae Ellen Yates; his brother, Don Augustine; and the mothers of his children, Karen Baker and Lois Capper.