William “Bill” Denzel Tompkins
William “Bill” Denzel Tompkins
Iowa City
William “Bill” Denzel Tompkins passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2023, with his loving wife by his side at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, after a long illness.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Sharon Center United Methodist Church in rural Kalona, Iowa. He will be laid to rest at Sharon Center United Methodist Church Cemetery. Lunch will be served in Fellowship Hall following the service. Visitation for family and friends will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at Beatty & Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona, Iowa.
Bill was born Oct. 3, 1957, to Richard “Dick” and Helen “Fran” (Sheimo) Tompkins in West Des Moines. He was united in marriage to Cathie Sue Stutsman on July 1, 2006, at Sharon Center United Methodist Church in Kalona. He graduated from West Des Moines Valley High School in 1976 and furthered his education at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. He made Iowa City his permanent home in 1979 when he began his studies at the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor’s in 1982. He worked at IAC Group (formerly Shelley-Globe, UTA and Lear Corp.) for 35 years. He was a member of Sharon Center United Methodist Church.
When his three older brothers were asked what they’d like to name their baby brother, they all said, “Bill.” Bill was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at the age of 8. As a child and throughout his early adulthood, Bill enjoyed spending time with his family at Woman Lake in Minnesota. Bill will be missed by all whom he touched, especially his heart of gold, kind soul and infectious, booming laughter. He enjoyed the simple things in life, often delighting in a lawn well-mowed, a clean car, an Iowa Hawkeyes game, sitting at the dinner table surrounded by family and friends or burning sticks on a clear night on the farm. Bill was referred to as the “baby whisperer” and was often seen holding any baby within his reach.
He took pride in sitting upon his John Deere tractor, using it for various projects around the yard. He enjoyed scenic motorcycle rides with his wife and friends, exploring small towns in Eastern Iowa. But most of all, he found great joy in watching and enthusiastically cheering on his daughters and grandchildren in their activities. Bill was always ready for the next adventure and kept a pair of lawn chairs in the trunk of his car for the next sporting event or outdoor concert.
Bill underwent several procedures due to sports and health-related causes. Most notably, he had a heart valve replacement in 2006 and received a kidney and pancreas transplant in 2015.
Those left to forever remember and honor Bill’s memory include his wife, Cathie Stutsman; his daughters, Grace (Matthew) Parlette of Phoenix, Ariz., Emily (Matthew) Bothell of West Liberty, Iowa, Audrey (Brendan) McKasy of Seattle, Wash., Anne Stork (Peter McCarthy) of Iowa City, Iowa, Jayne Berglund (Chad Barker) of Tacoma, Wash., and Sara (Seth) Widdes of Phoenix, Ariz. Bill was proud of his grandchildren Cameron and Casey Parlette, Maddox and Lincoln McKasy, Oliver Stork, Jack Barker and Rosemary Widdes. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard (Cynthia) Tompkins of Mason City, Iowa, Ronald (Coleen) Tompkins of Phoenix, Ariz., and Donald (Jill) Tompkins of Iowa City, Iowa; 10 nephews; two nieces; and former wives, Brenda Wheat (married Aug. 6, 1977) and Patricia Tompkins (married Aug. 5, 1990).
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Fran and Dick Tompkins; stepson, Adam Jones; niece, Sara Jayne Tompkins; nephew, Richard Norton Tompkins III; and great-great-nephew, Rhett Jay Dreyer.
Bill’s family extends their gratitude to his care teams at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics and Mercy Hospital and to their extended family and friends for their loving support and care for Bill throughout his illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Sharon Center United Methodist Church, Sharon Schoolhouse in C/O S. Leonard, Treasurer, 5457 Maier Ave SW, Riverside, IA 52327; or JDRF (www.jdrf.org/donate).