William "Bill" Shively Welden

William (Bill) Welden, 90, a long-time resident of Iowa Falls, died Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, 2016 at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in New Hampton, Iowa. Bill suffered a long battle with dementia. “A Celebration of Life” will take place 1:30 P.M., Saturday, Dec. 3rd at the First Christian Church in Iowa Falls; 221 Fischer Ave, with interment at a later date. Memorials may be directed to: the First Christian Church or the Alzheimers’s Association; c/o Linn's Funeral Home; 1521 Washington Ave.; Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. The Linn's Funeral Home is helping the family with arrangements. 

Bill was born on Feb. 26, 1926, in Iowa Falls, the son of Lewis L. and Iva Mae Shively Welden. Bill graduated from Iowa Falls High School, joined the Army Air Force and served two years in the Philippines and on the island of Tinian during WWII.  In 1946, he attended Ellsworth Community College, where he met Bonnie J. Olson. They were married on Aug 3rd, l947 and spent sixty-nine years together. He traveled for several years as a factory representative for American Motors in Texas, Oregon and Washington. He taught auto mechanics at Webster City High School for nine years. He also operated several businesses in Iowa Falls, including Welden Auto Company, Welden’s Westside Grocery and Welden Radio. After retirement, Bill and Bonnie worked at the Nebraska Boys Ranch for at-risk youth in Alliance, NE. Bill served as an elder in the First Christian Church and was active in politics and the community. He loved to play the trumpet and is perhaps best remembered for organizing and directing the Red-White-and-Blue Band, a community band created, in part, for the Bi-Centennial Celebration in Iowa Falls.

Those he dearly loved are left to cherish his memory including his wife, Bonnie, of New Hampton, IA; one son, William (Bing) Welden of Long Beach, CA; three daughters, Polly Welden and Patsy (Curtis) Fox of Colorado Springs, CO, Betsy Zenk (Jerry) of New Hampton, IA; seven grandchildren, loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Betty, and her husband Robert, of Iowa Falls.