Mehegan, William Diehm

William Diehm Mehegan, 89, of Laguna Hills, Calif., formerly of 4300 Maureen Ct. SE, Cedar Rapids, died June 21, 2011, at home. A private celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Mehegan home in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. His body will be cremated, with his ashes to be scattered.

Survivors include his sons, Michael of Cedar Rapids and Sean of San Juan Capistrano.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Constance; brother, John; and sister, Betty.

Bill was born July 17, 1921, in Minneapolis, Minn., and graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids in 1939. He served as a B-24 Liberator bombardier in the 8th Air Force, 453rd BG during World War II and was shot down and held in a German POW camp for nine months. He first married Bette, who gave birth to their son, Michael, in 1946. On March 14, 1952, he married Constance Adelaide, who gave birth to their son, Sean, in 1954. He earned a B.A. degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, and a M.A. degree in English from the University of Michigan. He taught high school English at Grosse Point High School in Michigan and at Scarsdale High School in New York for 26 years.

Bill was a contributor to Theatre Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Opera.

In lieu of flowers, all donations may be made to Theatre Cedar Rapids or the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre.