William (Willie) Eugene Wilford

William (Willie) Eugene Wilford

Shueyville

William (Willie) Wilford was born in Eastern Iowa on February 20, 1936, the son of Dorothy and Harry Wilford. The youngest of three, he loved to wrestle and build things with his hands. As a young man, he took the skills he learned as a carpenter’s apprentice into a lifelong career in construction—over 50 years. Some of the more notable projects he led include the new Czech Museum in Cedar Rapids and the restoration of the gold dome of the Old Capitol in Iowa City.

In the late 1960s, Willie purchased 80 acres of untouched land just outside of Shueyville. To him, it was paradise: a place where a creek wound through lush timber, rolling hills, prairie meadows, and pasture. It was there that he would spend his life—building two houses and raising his family.

He loved animals, and when he began raising cattle as a hobby, he treated them like pets, naming each one. There were Pop-Tart, Freckles, and Caesar the bull, to name a few. He did the same with the exotic birds he cared for—building shelters and houses for all varieties of rare pheasants, peacocks, and chickens. There was even an owl.

He enjoyed music, playing cards, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his friends and family.

William Eugene Wilford died on April 29, 2025, at the age of 89. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Donna; children, Liz (David) Colson, Laura (Alan) Fisher, Kathy Merta, Joe (Kristen) Wilford, Tara Lofgren, and Bert (Joy) Martin; grandchildren, Maxx Colson, Grace (Erik) Marchinek, Cody, Kyle (Danielle), and James (Bree) Fisher, Alisha (James) Horyna, Cassaundra Merta, Kourtney (Ben) Milks, Hunter and Ryan Lofgren, Robert and Emily Martin; and 11 great-grandchildren.

There are no services scheduled.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Willie’s name to the Arbor Day Foundation.