Faltis, William J. 'Bill'

William J. “Bill” Faltis, 93, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with Our Lord Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Czech National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW.

Bill was born March 13, 1918, to William and Olga (Dobrovsky) Faltis. He was a third generation farmer for 62 years on the family farm near Fairfax. He had a love for the outdoors and nature, never getting enough time for fishing. Bill had a great love of flying and held a private pilot's license for over 50 years. He was a member of the Iowa Flying Farmers and served as president in 1978-1979. His longest flight until now was to Saskatoon, Canada.

Bill served on the Prairie School board at the beginning when the high school was built and the band was small enough to fit on a wagon pulled behind his tractor in parades. At Hus Presbyterian Church he was chairman of the Trustees and building committee in 1972-1973, when the church was built. He was a lifelong member of the Linn County Farm Bureau and the Quiet Birdmen.

Bill was inseparable from his beloved wife, Helen. They spent 25 winters in south Texas where they made many dear friends and “Waltzed Across Texas” with their friends, The Leonard Reyman Orchestra.

Because of airport expansion, Bill and Helen moved to Fairfax, Atkins, and then to Cedar Rapids, never finding just the right replacement for the farm home. While in Atkins he operated the Country Air Court for over 14 years. A special joy was giving airplane rides to people who had never flown before; Bill was pleased that one ride inspired a future Air Force and commercial pilot.

Bill attended Cherry Valley grade school (attended by three Faltis generations) and two years at Fairfax High School. He was also a welder, often stopping his own farming to repair neighbors' broken machinery, accepting nothing in return.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; parents; and a sister, Mae Novotny. He is survived by children, David (Chris), Dennis (Bridget), and Joyce Faltis-Serenil; sister, Viola Zahradnik; grandchildren, Cassandra, Matthew, Brian, and Ali Faltis, and Amy Venetucci; and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts can be sent to Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids or Mercy Hospice House in Hiawatha.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at.