White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – William (Bill) Lester West, 81 years old, of Independence, Iowa, formerly of Oelwein, Iowa, died on January 19, 2013, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.  He was born on August 7, 1931, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Anna Bluebelle (Fink) and Lester William West.  He graduated from high school in Frederika, Iowa, with the Class of 1951.  On June 27, 1954, he and the former Carol Lee Huntbach were married in Waterloo, Iowa.  She preceded him in death in 2007.  Bill worked at Rath Packing Co. and also farmed east of Jesup, Iowa.  He retired in 1989.

Bill enjoyed traveling with his family and his children remember with great fondness their annual family camping vacations.  In later years he became a skilled woodworker and made beautiful birdhouses and other crafts.  He and Carol loved doing flea markets and visiting with friends.  Bill’s hard work and positive attitude set a wonderful example for his entire family and he will be sorely missed.

Bill is survived by 2 daughters, Debbie (Rich) French of St. Charles, Illinois and Pam (Mark) Giles of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and 1 son, Kevin (Becky) West of Jesup, Iowa.  He was blessed with 6 grandchildren, Nate French, Sarah French, Katie (Ben) Valet, Laura Giles, Chris West, and Amanda West.  Bill enjoyed a special relationship with his 5 siblings.  He is survived by 2 brothers, Don West of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Larry (Marilyn) West of Waterloo, Iowa, 2 sisters, Barbara Schoneman and June (Bob) Hansen, both of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and 1 brother-in-law, Laurence (Merna) Johnson of Waterloo, Iowa.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, 1 daughter in infancy, 1 sister, Norma Jean Johnson, 1 sister-in-law, Lois West, and 1 brother-in-law, Ron Schoneman.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at the White Funeral Home in Independence with Rich French officiating.  Casket Bearers will be Nate French, Sarah French, Katie Valet, Ben Valet, Laura Giles, Chris West, and Amanda West.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.

White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21^st, at the funeral home.