Bill Leroy Quist

     Bill Leroy Quist, A.K.A Big Red to some of his childhood cohorts, was born June 27, 1951.  Bill grew up in Spencer Iowa with his brother Roger, sister Nancy, and cousins Tammy (Faulkner) Nighswonger and Jerry Faulkner.  Growing up, Bill ensured Carrol’s Bakery’s success by eating a lot of “Oh Boy’s!” Bill made sure people read the news by delivering the Des Moines Register.  In High School, he was a short order cook at the North Y, and Thurston’s, while pursuing a 2 year career as a High School wrestler.   Bill met the love of his life of 48 years when he was 18 at Stub’s House of Plenty, where he tried to bribe Marilyn Montag for a date with a $10 tip for a cup of coffee as she waited tables.  It must of worked, because they married on June 20, 1970.

      Bill and Marilyn have four children.  David (partner Ryan Lobdell), Jon, Jason (wife Christine), and Angie (partner Ron Tevis).  After a short career in law enforcement and moving around a bit from Ankeny to Colfax, to Milford, Bill and Marilyn settled back down in Spencer and Bill took a job working for the Spencer pack.  It is suspected Bill left law enforcement because he walked in on one too many females fighting each other in a bar.  Bill always said, “If you see two women fighting in a bar, don’t get in between ‘em!” 

     Bill eventually took a job at Eaton Corporation and was known to have a side job from time to time where he and Marilyn could afford to take his family camping, on fishing outings, vacations to Disney World, and the Black Hills, where many fine memories were made.   And of course, who can forget how he enjoyed his motorcycle.

     Bill was active in the Spencer Community. At one point leading the Knight’s of Columbus, being active in the Cub Scouts, and taking Tae Kwon Do with his children.

     After 23 years at Eaton Corp in Spencer, Bill transferred to Eaton in Belmond, where Bill and Marilyn settled in Kanawha Iowa on an acreage. Bill took a severance package at Eaton and continued to work at Winnebago, Serta, and then Graham Manufacturing before retiring.  Just like their dream went, they ended up on an acreage with a pool, and a horse barn, just in case they wanted horses.  They never did, they opted for cats instead.

     In retirement, Bill continued to enjoy the presence of his Grandchildren Chet, Madison, Zack, Amelia, Nellie, and Anna.   Bill loved working around his acreage.  Even after he lost his left leg from an aneurysm, he could be seen hopping up on his lawn mower and going at his chores like nobody’s business.  No…he didn’t let much get in the way when he was determined. 

     On January 14, 2018, Bill received an offer he couldn’t refuse, and there is a 200 percent certainty that he won’t be back.  Some of the perks of his new position includes visiting with friends and relatives who received the exclusive offer before him.  Surely, to have some great conversations with his Mother Colleen Quist (Smith) and his Father Earl, his Grandparents, Golda and Gerald Faulkner, and Lawrence and Etta Quist.  Among the perks, Bill also gets an unlimited Kentucky Fried Chicken buffet pass, and gets to eat all the Pecan Rolls without the worry of weight gain.  Oh…and he doesn’t have to play Canasta if he doesn’t want too!  There is a fair amount of certainty that as you are reading this, Bill is on a cruise ship in the Bahamas enjoying Rum Punch, and Smiling down on all of us, wanting us to enjoy life for all that it is…and all that it is not!

SERVICES

OFFICIATING

VISITATION

MUSIC