William Oliver

William (Bill) Paul Oliver was born on November 10, 1950, in Wilden Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, to Walter and Dolly (Dorothy) Oliver. Bill lived with his family in the Des Moines area, then later moved to the rural Oakley/Norwood area in Lucas County, Iowa.

Bill had a natural talent for woodworking and drafted plans for and built kitchen cabinets for his mother during shop class. While he enjoyed playing baseball, tennis and golf, he mostly enjoyed bowling and planned to become a professional bowler. He enjoyed working on and customizing vehicles, especially his VW Beetle.

Bill graduated from Chariton Community High School in 1968 and attended Indian Hills Community College in Centerville. He later attended Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny and Des Moines) and graduated from an accounting program.

For several years, Bill worked at the Hy-Vee Food Store in Chariton, Iowa, later transferring to the Muscatine store, then back to Chariton. After completing his schooling at DMACC, he was hired by the Iowa Department of Transportation and worked for many years in the office where the trucker permits were issued.

Though a "confirmed bachelor," Bill eventually decided to share his life with Kristen Allison and married her on January 24, 1976, in Milo, Iowa. For the first several years, he continued with his life plan to achieve professional bowler status, participating in up to five bowling leagues a week, both local and as far away as Des Moines. He participated in many Greater Iowa Bowling Tournaments and appeared on the television program, "Let's Go Bowling!" Bill was overjoyed (and scared) when he saw his children, Kirk and Amanda, born in 1986 and 1990, respectively. He was so proud of them and their accomplishments throughout their lives. He was so happy to be able to attend the wedding of Kirk and Shannon recently.

Bill had multiple medical issues throughout his life and in December 2013 was diagnosed with both lymphoma and leukemia, both rare types and both aggressive. Through his treatment and struggles to survive, his faith in God deepened as he studied the Bible more and devoted much more time to prayer for himself and others. He became much more aware of his Christianity and found that he was able to talk to others and help them. He felt that he should be in church with his church family whenever possible and really regretted not being able to attend regularly in the past month or so prior to his passing. He wanted to set a good example for his children and others. His faith was so ingrained that even when he was delirious with fever and confused, he still responded to scripture readings and prayers. He was looking forward to receiving his new body and being with Jesus without pain or physical limitation.

His parents, Walter and Dolly (Dorothy) Oliver; sister, Charlotte (Oliver) LeFleur; and brother, Jerry were waiting for him in heaven.

They are all waiting now for his wife, Kristen; son, Kirk (wife Shannon); daughter, Amanda; sister, Linda (Oliver) Wild; brothers, Dennis and Thomas; and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life service will be held at First Assembly of God Church at 1913 East 22nd, Atlantic, Iowa, on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

Following the service, a luncheon will be served, and people will have time to visit and reminisce.

The family requests that instead of flowers, any memorials be made to the family, per Bill's wishes.