Lloyd M. Willig

FOREST CITY - Lloyd Willig, age 86 of Forest City, died Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:30 AM until time of service at the church.
Burial will be in the spring at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.
Lloyd was born on May 19, 1924 in Hubbard, Iowa to Carl and Emma (Rutzen) Willig, the sixth of ten children. After graduating from Eldora High School in 1942, Lloyd was drafted into the US Army when he was 18 years old, serving as a Master Sergeant in Darby's Rangers in Europe until he was injured in Anzio, Italy in 1944. Lloyd received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his heroic service.
When he returned from the war, Lloyd attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in accounting in 1949. He worked in accounting until moving to Forest City and opening the Winnebago Hatchery in 1958. After a successful business career, Lloyd retired as President and CEO of the Forest City Bank and Trust in 1982. He received the John K and Luise V. Hanson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for his lifetime of service to Forest City.
Lloyd married Lanida Ann Meyer on August 22, 1948. They had two daughters, Dana (Mark) Wilkinson of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Dawn (Paul) Harrington of Woden, Iowa. Lin passed away on November 23, 1980. Lloyd married Elsie Hanson on July 25, 1981, and with her two children, Stephanie (Fred) Koch of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Mark (Penny) Hanson of Littleton, Colorado, they created a new family which has grown to include nine grandchildren (Christina (Kyle) Dietz, Tim Koch, Eric (Bryn) Hanson, Mitchell Hanson, Lyndsey Jo (Kyle) Day, Shaun Wilkinson, Katie Harrington, Elaine Harrington, Steven Harrington) and two great grandchildren (James Edward Day and Emerson Lucille Dietz). In addition, Lloyd is survived by a loving extended family including many nieces and nephews, his brother Dale, and his sister Ruth. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, two sisters, five brothers, and his grandson, Jared Wilkinson.
Lloyd loved to play golf and enjoyed watching all types of sports. He was a devoted fan of all of his children and grandchildren's activities. He was a frequent presence at Forest City High School events, and was always cheering for his beloved Hawkeyes and Cubs. Lloyd was extremely involved in the Forest City community, serving on the school board, the Immanuel Lutheran church council, the Forest City golf course board of directors, the Forest City economic development board of directors, The Forest City Chamber of Commerce, AFS, and as a Rotarian for 50 years. Lloyd loved his weekly coffee group and playing cards with his friends.
Lloyd was a true supporter of education and a scholarship will be arranged in his memory. Memorials can be made to the Lloyd M. Willig scholarship fund and to Muse Norris Hospice of North Iowa.
Lloyd will always be remembered for his loyalty, integrity and overwhelming kindness which his family and friends will work to exemplify in his honor. He will be sincerely missed by his family and many friends.