Stiff, James William 'Bill'

James William “Bill” Stiff, 83, of Tipton, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, from an apparent heart attack. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Rochester United Methodist Church with the Rev. Norman Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, before the time of service. Burial will be held in the Rochester Cemetery, at a later date.

A memorial fund has been established in his memory.

Online condolences and photographs may be shared with his family at .

Bill was born Nov. 9, 1928, in Cedar County, to Adam Clayton Stiff and Elsie Mae Christian Stiff. He attended school in Rochester and was a 1946 graduate of the Springdale High School. Bill served his country in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. Bill returned to Tipton and was united in marriage to Jeneane Butterbrodt on Dec. 19, 1954, in Cedar County. Bill and his brother, Dale, owned and operated Stiff's Body Shop, until he retired in 1990. He continued to work part time until 1998 and then he and Jeneane fully retired and enjoyed the winters in Arizona.

Bill was a member of the Rochester United Methodist Church where he served as their board chairman for many years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Moose and served as a trustee of Rochester Township and Cemetery.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jeneane of Tipton; daughters, Dawn (Jerry) Marolf of Moscow, Iowa, and Karen (Jay) Ballenger of Tipton; son, James William Stiff Jr. (Lori Sturdy) of Tipton; Lynn's special friend, Doug Hill; sister, Lela M. Slach of Iowa City; brother, Dale L. (Emogene) Stiff of Tipton; grandchildren, Brad Stiff, Daley Fraker, Dustin and Kyle Marolf, Brooke Fields, Kimberly Yerington, Greg Ballenger and Jenny Woods; and great-grandchildren, Lucas Yerington, Maddox Fields and Karly Hajek.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Lynn Fraker; and brothers, Donald Stiff and M. Joe Stiff.

Published in The Gazette Dec. 19, 2011.