Obituary of William Roy Ferguson

William Roy Ferguson, age 92, died peacefully with family at his bedside at Belle Plaine Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, on September 2nd, 2024.

Bill was born September 23rd, 1931, to Roy and Mary (Hartman) Ferguson, in Carroll Iowa.  The family (including siblings Charles, 1921-2014, and Mary Lou, 1926-2011) lived in Lake View, Iowa.  

Bill was a proud member of the Lake View High School class of 1949.  He loved and excelled at baseball.  He was the only left-handed pitcher in the county.  He was also a thespian and loved to get dressed up and play the part.  Anyone that knows him, knows he was always a “character.”  While growing up in Lake View, he was an active member of the Lake View First Congregational United Church of Christ where he later served as an elder.

Bill served in the United States Air Force as a cryptanalyst in Korea in the 15th Radio Squadron, Mobile, where he broke weather codes.  He was delighted to go on the Honor Flight to D.C. in 2014, along with 380 other Korean veterans.

Bill earned his bachelors degree from Buena Vista College (1957) and his  masters degree from Colorado State University, Greeley (1960).  He was an educator for over thirty years, teaching at Forest City Leland, West Monona, Grinnell and Fort Dodge.  He served as a social studies teacher, guidance counselor and special education teacher.  He was passionate about sports and spent several years as tennis and golf coach as well as many years officiating football, basketball, baseball and softball.

Bill was married to Patricia Golnitz for 19 years (and later divorced) and had two sons Jeffrey and Michael.

Bill married Pamela Tuinstra in 1979 and adopted her daughter Julie.

Bill and Pam lived in Lake View and enjoyed opening up a Consignment Craft store in their home with their friends.  As well as Gourmet Club, where they would get together with friends for themed food evenings and fun.  The couple enjoyed their travels to visit family and friends to Arkansas, Arizona, Wyoming, Minnesota, and New England.  They also enjoyed many day trips with close friends.  

Bill was an active member of the American Legion, Elks and Lions, and frequently served in leadership roles.

Bill was the best Chicago Cubs fan there ever was.  He spent many hundreds of hours studying them via online blogs and newspapers.  He was thrilled to see them win the World Series in 2016.  He also loved being an Iowa Hawkeye Football Fan.

Fishing was also a large part of Bill’s life.  And there wasn’t a card game he didn’t enjoy.  Puzzles, cribbage, crosswords and slot machines brought Bill many hours of enjoyment.  He always felt that keeping your mind and body strong was the key to a long life.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife Pam of 45 years, brother Charles Ferguson, sister Mary Lou (Ray) Borron, and parents Roy and Mary Ferguson.

He will be missed by his son Jeffrey (Lynne) Ferguson, son Michael (Bev) Ferguson, and daughter Julie (Ben) Safratowich.  His sister-in-law Olive Ferguson, brother in-law Michael (Barb) Tuinstra and sister in-law, Sandra Pearson.  And many grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Belle Plaine Lutheran Home, St Croix Hospice and VA Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care of Bill during the last few months.

William and Pamela Ferguson are interred at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa.