William Lee Sherman

William Lee Sherman, 84, was born February 6, 1941, in Buckeye, Iowa, the first son of William Marion and Sybil Sheets Sherman.  He died October 27, 2025 of Alzheimer’s-related complications at Luther Park in Des Moines.  The family moved to Chapin, Hampton, Newburg, and Grinnell as his parents taught and administered in these schools.  He graduated from Grinnell High School in 1959, and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Iowa.  During high school and college, he worked for the Grinnell Herald Register, the Waterloo Courier, the Muscatine Journal, and the Daily Iowan, starting a lifelong love of journalism.

He married Faith Nimrod in Stanton, Iowa, in 1967 and they lived all of their married life in Des Moines.  They raised two children, Mark and Meredith, in the same home they continued to live in for 57 years.

Devoting his whole life to public education, Bill worked for 36 years as a public relations specialist for the Iowa State Education Association.  He was active in the NEA and the Public Relations Society of America.   He edited the book Tributes to Iowa Teachers in 1996.  As part of his final work for the ISEA he coordinated publication of Iowa’s Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning, honoring the 12,000 country schools that once dotted Iowa’s rural landscape.  After retiring in 2000, he continued to encourage the preservation of country schools, organizing 24 state conferences.  He helped found and actively participated in the Country School Association of America.

Bill was active in historical and preservation efforts, including the Des Moines, Polk County, and Iowa State Historical organizations, the Terrace Hill Society Foundation, and Hoyt Sherman Place.  He spearheaded the creation and installation of the “Birthplace of Des Moines” downtown mural near the Principal Park Stadium.  He was instrumental in the selection of the 2004 Iowa quarter that recognized our state’s foundation in education.  He was active in the Lower Beaver Neighborhood Association and successfully campaigned for the upgrade, of the Northwest swimming pool.  Other interests included coaching at Beaverdale Little League, ushering for the Iowa Cubs, volunteering at the Iowa Hall of Pride and the Heritage Gallery, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.  He was a longtime member of the Golden K Kiwanis.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Faith, their son Mark (Karen) of Lone Tree, CO, daughter Meredith (Dan) Borchardt of Clarksville, IA, grandchildren Nathan Sherman, Janet (fiancé Carter Bratland) Borchardt, and Rachel Borchardt, brothers Don (Cheryl) Sherman and Tom (Mary) Sherman, brothers-in-law Vance Nimrod and Dale (Sunny) Nimrod, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, step-siblings Florence (Floyd) Rytting and Bob (Marjorie, Keota) Sherman, and sister-in-law Jean Ann Nimrod.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where his memorial service will be held on Monday, November 10, at 11:00am following a visitation at 10:00am.  Burial will be at the Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery. 

The family extends big thanks to the staff for the excellent care received at Broadlawns Memory Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Luther Park, and Gentiva Hospice. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Zion Lutheran Church or the Country School Association of America. 

This funeral will be live streamed on Facebook at Zionlutheranchurchdesmoines