William R. Jansen

William "Bill" Jansen of Sioux City passed away Thursday, March 3, 2016, at his home, surrounded by family, following a brief illness.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, 1915 Nebraska St., in Sioux City, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Blvd., in Sioux City. Online condolences may be offered through Meyer Brothers Funeral Homes at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bill was born on Feb. 4, 1926, in Dubuque, Iowa, to George F. Jansen and Rose (Rechsteiner) Jansen. He was a 1943 graduate of Dubuque Senior High School. He then worked at Dubuque Bank and Trust until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He was sent through officer training, graduating with a degree in business from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in 1946.

On Sept. 4, 1948, Bill married Dorothy Jean Hamilton. The two of them made their home in Dubuque, where they raised their four children. Following his discharge from the Navy, Bill returned to Dubuque Bank and Trust Company where he remained until 1979. He began as an assistant cashier, becoming the president and a director of the bank from 1967 to 1979.

Bill accepted a position as a vice president with Toy Bank of Sioux City in 1981. Toy became Norwest Bank in 1987. There he continued as a vice president until his retirement in 1991.

Always an active member of the community where he lived, in Dubuque Bill served on the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Rotary Club, the Dubuque YMCA, the boards of Mid-America Life Insurance Company and Finley Hospital. He was the treasurer for Bethany Home Retirement Center, and was deeply involved in the church he loved there, Immanuel United Church of Christ.

While in Sioux City, he served on The Mental Health Board, Sioux City Rotary Club, and was an involved and dedicated member of First United Methodist Church of Sioux City. In retirement, he served for 20 years as a volunteer for the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Bill took immense pleasure in time spent with friends, playing golf and cards, but his greatest joy was his family.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy; his daughters, Vicki (Douglas) Kunkle, Linda (Nathan) Aaseng, and Jean Kahl; a son, David (Lynn) Jansen; grandchildren Kelli (John Day) Kunkle-Day, Jonathan (Meredith) Kunkle, Jay (Amber Henson) Aaseng, Maury (Charlene) Aaseng, Mikhaila (Brandon) Dattoli, Evan (Stephanie) Aaseng, Carolyn (Jason) Hardy, Brian (Kristine) Kahl, Michael (Melanie) Kahl, Joshua Jansen, Jonathan Jansen, and Cara Jansen; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, George J. Jansen and John Jansen; his sister, Elsie Prater; sisters-in-law, Donna Jansen and Mary (Hamilton) Enabnit; brother-in-law, Lyle Enabnit; son-in-law, Douglas Kahl; and nephews, George A. Jansen and Thomas Prater.

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, 1915 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA, 51104, Hospice of Siouxland, 4300 Hamilton Blvd., Sioux City, IA 51104, or the Pointe at Sunrise Retirement Community, 5501 Gordon Dr., Sioux City, IA 51106.