Dearest Friends and Family,
It is with a heavy heart that we share about the passing of our father Bill King. Our dad came
into the world on February 8, 1939 and left this world on September 3, 2020. He was the son of Helen and Rufus King and the brother of Joan Alsager. He grew up on the south side of Des Moines attending Lincoln High School and Park Avenue Church. He was an avid basketball player and very active in the school and church choirs. He headed off to Iowa State University and then to the University of Iowa to complete his Law Degree. It was during this time that he fell in love and married Karen King and the two eventually made their way back to Des Moines. Our amazing dad raised four girls and was always outnumbered. He managed this brilliantly with a large dose of grace and a larger dose of humor.
Our dad was so many things to so many people. He spent his career as an attorney with the Davis Law Firm in Des Moines. He was active at Central Presbyterian Church serving as a soloist and choir member, a youth group leader and Sunday school teacher. We were lucky to call him our dad. He is the reason that it feels comforting to have sports on in the background on the weekends and why the mountains have always been a spiritual place for each of us to spend time. He brought music into our lives with his beautiful voice, our many trips to the opera, the symphony, musicals and when mom got her way, Neil Diamond concerts. He was a thoughtful listener and a voice of reason when we needed one. He could play a mean game of Yahtzee and Cribbage and had a playful competitive streak. He had many places and activities that brought him joy including, grilling on the deck, walking around Gray’s Lake, gardening, fishing in Canada with friends, bird watching, hiking in the mountains, relaxing by the ocean, eating his mother’s oatmeal cookies, spending time with his dogs and spending time with his grandchildren.
One of his favorite past times was any chance to cheer his favorite teams in college football and basketball. There are many important holidays in the year but the College Football Playoffs and March Madness were included as some of his personal favorite holidays. We will think of him fondly during these times and the joy these times brought to him. Go Hawkeyes!
Thank you dad for teaching us to be kind, to treat others as we would want to be treated, to
adore and protect our children, to remember the importance of voting and standing up for what is right and for loving us and our families so completely. We will miss you.
All our love,
Julie, Kristin, Megan and Jenny
We would like to offer a special thank-you to the staff who loved and cared for our dad at Calvin Community. Your tireless work during these trying times has not gone unnoticed. Thank-you.
Bill King is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Karen King. Their son Jeff, his parents Helen and Rufus King and his sister Joan. Their beloved family dogs Duchess, Fritz, Maggie and Buffy.
Bill King is survived by his four daughters and their families: Julie King and husband Matt
Mercer and their children Taj, Kiane and Mariana. Kristin King and her children Emma, Jake and Will Hamilton. Megan Hunicke and her husband Brian and their daughter Merrin. Jenny Fenton and her husband Dave and their children Calvin, Sawyer and Carson. He was also survived by his beloved niece Debbie Behle and her family Uwe, Anna and Eric.
In lieu of Flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J Fox Foundation and help us find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. www.michaeljfox.org. You can make donations on the website or by phone: 1-800-708-7644. You can also send a check to: Michael J Fox Foundation, PO Box 5015, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014