William J. McLarty

William J. "Bill" McLarty, 81, of Sioux City passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, at Indian Hills Respite Unit.

Services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Schoop officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a 7 p.m. prayer service, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

William was born May 23, 1926, in Smithland, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Eva (Parker) McLarty. He grew up in Smithland, where he attended school. He served with the U.S. Army in Hawaii and Korea.

He married Isabelle A. Wegner on Nov. 9, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. After their marriage, the couple moved to California, where he worked for Air Research for about three years. They returned to Sioux City, where he worked for a feed mill, a construction company, Sioux Tools and then for Kent Feed for 28 years, retiring in 1986. Bill really enjoyed the "customer service" aspect of his job.

He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, where he had served as trustee and usher. The couple bowled with the Lutheran Mixed League for 40 years. After he retired, the couple enjoyed traveling and spending several months each winter in Phoenix. Bill enjoyed fishing and taking his children to farm ponds. He always looked forward to the family's annual fishing vacations in Minnesota.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Isabelle; three children, Kathy Spitz and her husband, Glenn of West Bloomfield, Mich., Michael McLarty and his wife, Linda of Cabot, Ark., and Patrick McLarty and his wife, Lisa of Sioux City; a brother, Merlin McLarty of Sioux City; three grandchildren, Melissa, Chanda and Elliot; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Peggy; a granddaughter, Courtney; his parents; five sisters; and five brothers.

Pallbearers will be Edward Wegner, Doug Wegner, Jim Wegner, Bill Ambroz, William McLarty and Terry McLarty.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to Hospice of Siouxland or Calvary Lutheran Church.