06/15/2016
Rev. William “Bill” Floyd Branson, 62, of Winterset, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at Winterset Care Center North after an extended battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 18, 2016, at The Church of the Nazarene in Winterset with Pastor Chris Burgett officiating. Burial will take place at 3 PM Saturday in the Main Station Cemetery at Moravia, Iowa.
Bill was born on September 6, 1953, in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Grover and Marie (Birkhead) Branson. After graduating from Bettendorf High School, Bill continued his education to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministries at Vennard College in University Park, Iowa.
He was married on March 10, 1973, at Bettendorf, Iowa, to Terri Lynn McKern. “Pastor Bill” took his first and only pastorate at the Winterset Church of the Nazarene in Winterset, Iowa on April 1, 1989.
He devoted his life to sharing the gospel of Christ with everyone he met and continued to do so after his retirement in January 2016. Bill also spent many years serving as the chaplain for Winterset QHC Care Centers North and South.
Bill was an avid fisherman, hunter, and collector of many “treasures. He enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting with friends. His giving nature and willingness to help whenever he saw a need will also be greatly missed.
Bill is survived by his mother, Marie (Birkhead) Branson of Winterset; wife, Terri Branson of Winterset; son, Scott (Shalini) Branson of Winterset; daughter, Carrie (Chris) Burgett of Winterset; brothers, Robert (Charlotte) Branson of Shenandoah and Barry (Patricia) Branson of Bellevue, Nebraska; many nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Grover Floyd Branson.
Visitation will be Friday from noon to 8 PM at The Church of the Nazarene with family receiving friends from 5 to 8 PM. Memorials may be directed to his family for a future designation.
The family of Rev. William “Bill” F. Branson wishes to thank the staff of Hospice of Central Iowa and Winterset QHC Care Center North for all the care and support they have provided.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by McCalley-Collins Funeral Home in Winterset. Online condolences may be left at www.mccalleyfuneralhome.com.