04/26/2017
A Funeral Service for Bill Lavern Roff, age 83, of Knoxville will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Billy Lavern Roff was born July 3, 1933, in Marion County, Iowa the son of Wallace “W.A.” Roff and Cynthia (DeMoss) Roff.
He graduated from Knoxville High School and then worked as a truck driver. Bill then served in the United States Army, during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1953. Following his honorable discharge, Bill returned to Knoxville and worked at Maytag.
A few years later he became an apprentice for Iowa Power & Light. On December 12, 1958, Bill was united in marriage to Maude Onstank at the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville. To this union, two daughters were born: Diane and Debbie. Bill was a lineman for Iowa Power & Light until his retirement from Mid-American Energy in 1996. He was excellent at his job and was never injured because of the careful and precise manner in which he worked.
Bill enjoyed the Knoxville Raceway and had served on the Marion County Fairboard and on the wrecker crew.
He and Maude enjoyed traveling by motorcycle and wintering in Texas for 13 years. He was active in his daughter’s 4-H, helping them raise sheep. When the girls were young Bill and Maude always had a special vacation for them in the summer. They also enjoyed boating and camping at state and county fairs with the girls. Bill had great pride in his home and farm, but most especially he cherished his wife and daughters.
Bill passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at his home at the age of 83 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Maude.
Those left to cherish Bill’s memory include his daughters: Diane Haselhuhn (Dennis) and Debbie (Mike) Crozier; 2 granddaughters: Daphne (Luke) Dickens and Dana; sister, Betty Beal, and many other family members and friends.
Funeral Service
First United Methodist Church – Knoxville, Iowa
Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.
Rev. David Weesner, Officiating
Musical Selections
“How Great Thou Art”
“The Dance”
“Wichita Lineman”
Davis Folkerts, Pianist
Casket Bearers
Mike Beal, Pat Beal
Jeff Jenkins, Luke Dickens
Bruce Lefler, Rex DeMoss
Interment Graceland Cemetery – Knoxville, Iowa
Military Honors accorded by the American Legion Baty-Tucker Post No. 168, V.F.W. John Myers Post #3519, and the United States Army.
The family invites relatives and friends to return to the church for a coffee time following the service.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Pella or to the American Diabetes Association.