01/18/1991
Services for Bill William Benton Rinehart, 70, of Knoxville, who passed away Jan. 18, 1991, were held Jan. 21 at the First United Methodist Church. Arrangements were handled
by Williams Funeral Home. Rev K. Wayne Hoehns officiated at the services. Music was provided by organist Linda Gehling and vocalist Stephanie Young.
Pallbearers were William Hardin, Jerry Martinache, Dick Reece, Dwight Johnston, Harold Mcllarath, and Vic Weisberg. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Burrell, Wayne Langstraat, David Smith, Dewey Jontz, Harry Robison, Larry Williams, and the Marion County Fair Board which includes Jerry Beyer, Ben Bontrager, Charles Brooks, Ralph Capitani, Dennis Clark, Herb Cline, Jim Cummings, Jim Darnell, Ralph Dyer, Doc Harvey, Jack Kingery, Bob McRoberts, Stanton Metcalf, Grant Rankin, Kenneth Rayl, Don Rees, Robert Riggen, Dwayne Robuck, Rodney Robuck, Don Rodgers, Lyman Smith, Gene Stevenson, Paul Vander Linden, Jr., and Gary Verwers.
William (Bill) Rinehart was born in Knoxville on May 26, 1920. He was the son of Eliphalct (Liffie) Benton Rinehart and Eva Worstell.
Bill graduated from Knoxville High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II and until 1946.
On March 2, 1950, Bill was married to Sarah Dailey in Walla Walla, Washington. They made their home in rural Knoxville where Bill remained active as a farmer and livestock buyer.
He was a member of the Marion County Fair Board for the past 20 years and was president for four years. He served as the Assistant Sheep Superintendent at the Iowa State Fair for many years helping youth from all across Iowa.
Bill was known nationally as a dependable and honest marketer of sheep. He devoted his entire life to raising show sheep; purebred and commercial sheep flocks. His success in this vocation is demonstrated by the fact that he has shown many grand and reserve champions in several states.
Bill’s dedication to both the large and small flock owners of the sheep industry was instrumental throughout the United States and will be sorely missed by both the young and old.
The National Sprint Car of Fame was one of his visions in Knoxville. He was active in
moving this project closer to reality.
Bill had been a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church and the Iowa Farm Bureau. Bill was a 30-year leader of the 3-L’2 4-H Club with many young people being influenced and guided by him during those years.
Bill was the backbone of the neighborhood. He has always taken the neighborhood children
under his wing, teaching them farming. He was instrumental in their decisions to
participate in 4-H Club work. Through Bill’s leadership, many young people have.
learned respect, responsibility, and Civic concern which they will carry with them
for the rest of their lives.
When young people first met Bill they might have called his strict manner ” old fashioned”, however, they soon learned his desire for their success was the drive behind his ways. Motivating others to reach their highest goals was always Bill’s greatest asset.
Preceding Bill in death were his parents, his twin sister Wilma and his brother, Reese.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and many, many friends.
Memorials may be made to the Marion County 4-H Clubs and the Knoxville Rescue Unit.