William Steadman

William Steadman

Marion

William “Bill” LeRoy Steadman, 90, of Marion, passed from this life on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Visitation will be held from 12 Noon – 1:00pm, with a funeral service to follow on Wednesday, March 13 at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Kevin T. Jones will officiate. Private family interment willbe in Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.

Bill was born July 20, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, the only child of Arthur W. and Helena (Klinefelter) Steadman. Bill graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. After graduation, he attended Coe College, subsequently enlisting in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956, working as a fleet mechanic. After an honorable discharge, he reenrolled at Coe College, graduating with his BA. Bill taught at Oxford Junction for a couple of years and then enrolled at the University of Iowa from 1963-1964 where he earned an MA in Guidance and Counseling. After working at Central City High School for a year, he was hired by Vernon Middle School as a Guidance Counselor, finally retiring from there in 1997.

It was at the University of Iowa where Bill met the love of his life, Muriel (Mimi) M. Rundquist. They were united in marriage in 1964 at Kenwood Park Methodist Church and would have been married for 60 years on August 15. He often said that marrying Mimi was the “best thing [he] ever did.” Together, they raised two children, Jana and Casey.

Bill was very involved with his children’s lives. Both were his students at Vernon and he regularly attended all their events. He was instrumental in fostering a love of reading in them and they enjoyed many of the same novels. He also enjoyed the outdoors, raising a large garden together with his family, particularly enjoying growing tomatoes. With his daughter, he shared an interest in scary movies, amusement park rides, and a mutual enjoyment in making each other laugh at inappropriate jokes. He accompanied his son shooting and on Boy Scout trips several times. Incredibly proud of the successes of his children and grandchildren, Bill never missed an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments nor to remind them that he was proud of them.

After retiring, he enjoyed visiting his daughter and her family in Colorado, tackling sudoku puzzles, and reading many types of books, lamenting that there would never be enough time to read all the ones he wanted to. In his earlier years, Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, listening to all sorts of music from Elvis to Gregorian Chants and The Doors, and tinkering with his cars. Bill could strike up a conversation with anyone and loved to ponder the existential question put to him by his first superintendent, Ted Urich, who once asked him, “Bill, what does it all mean?”

His family is comforted by the idea that he finally may have his answer and that when the nurses at the hospital during his last visit asked Bill what he wanted them to know about him, said: I am loved.

Surviving family includes wife, Muriel; children Jana (Kirk) Jones, and Casey Steadman; and grandchildren Babalu Jones and Ramesh Jones. Bill’s family will miss his warmth, humor, and love, but remember and celebrate his final words, “I am grateful.”

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com.