William James “Bill” Mouser

William James “Bill” Mouser

Washington

William James Mouser (Bill), age 80, went to be with Jesus on Friday, May 12, 2023 after a brief stay at Halcyon House in Washington, Iowa. His faith has now become sight after experiencing substantial health issues for many years.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Prairie Flower Baptist Church with Pastor Tim O’Tool officiating. Calling hours will begin 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 Friday evening. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County or the Prairie Flower Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent for the family at www.jonesfh.com.

William James Mouser (Bill) was born June 15, 1942 at Washington County Hospital, Washington, Iowa, to Stanley J. and Gladys L. (Leeper) Mouser. He attended grade school at Prairie Flower Country School, and graduated from Washington High School, class of 1960. He attended Parsons College in Fairfield for one year, and then moved to St. Louis. He worked for 5 1/2 years at General Motors in the Corvette division, inspiring his love of Corvettes. While in St. Louis, he met his wife, Emily Jane Hoech, and they were married on December 29, 1962 in Winfield, MO. He not only gained a wonderful wife and life partner, but also a large extended family of which he loved being a part.

In 1968, Bill and Emily decided to move back to Iowa to farm with his dad, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who homesteaded the original land in 1851. After the move, they were blessed with 3 children: Angela Rose, Matthew William, and Sara Jane. Bill later worked as bookkeeper at Kalona Oil in Kalona, IA, until his retirement in 2009. In the years following, he enjoyed staying involved in agriculture by helping local farmers during the Spring and Fall, while he and Emily enjoyed their winter months in Arizona.

Bill was a member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and as a member of the Trustee Board, among other things. He was known for his rich bass singing voice, singing at church and for numerous weddings. He also served as a member of the Washington County Extension Council, as Director of Farm Bureau for Cedar Township, and as a member and Vice President of the Washington Community School District Board of Education. He enjoyed bowling, golf, coffee with "the guys," and watching Cardinal baseball and Hawkeye Sports. He looked forward to relatives and friends coming to the farm every fall to hunt pheasant. And he loved to tell a good joke or pull a good prank whenever the opportunity arose.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Emily; three children: Angela (Lance) Michaels of Rice Lake, WI, Matthew (Heather) Mouser of Urbandale, IA, and Sara (Mike) Juve of Chandler, AZ; seven grandchildren: Andrew and Sydney Wildes, Elijah and Abraham Mouser, and Lillian, Bennett and Grace Juve; nephew Jeff (Shelly) Pewitt and niece Eva (Jim) MacKoul; and numerous members of Emily's extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Gladys Mouser; sister Marilyn Pewitt and her husband, Joe; and father and mother-in-law, Rev. George and Emma Hoech.