William "Bill" Downing

February 28, 2022, William “Bill” Downing was called home by our Heavenly Father. Please join us June 25, 2022 when we celebrate his life at Smithfield Cemetery, Monona.

Bill was born in Waukon October 15, 1932 to Vern and Bernice Downing. He was one of six children. He had four brothers: Dean, who currently resides in Postville, and Robert, Neale and Gary, who all preceded him in death. One sister, the apple of their eyes, Darlene Kadera, also preceded him in death.

After serving in the United States Navy, he moved to Monrovia, CA with his then wife, Evie, to work with his brother, Bob. His three children, Bill Jr., Susan Bernice and David John, were born there. He later moved to Ventura, CA, where he worked for McFarland Trailer Center.

During this time, he met and married Nancy, who by the way, never paid for her trailer hitch. He became Dad to her children, Terry, Patty, Judy and Sheryl. Because that wasn’t enough kids, he informally adopted another son, John Harman. Bill and Nancy opened Bill’s Trailer Hitch and Supplies in Ventura, CA in 1969.

Bill and his siblings often played very competitive games of pinochle into the wee hours of the night, as the cousins took advantage of their distraction. The Downing siblings enjoyed the closest bonds a family could have. Dad and his siblings instilled love of family into all of us. Hard work and creativity were traits that ran through their blood.

Fortunately, most of us did not inherit Bill’s sense of direction. A famous phrase often heard from him on a road trip was “NO!! YOUR OTHER LEFT!”

A man of integrity, honesty and kindness, he found friendship with many of his customers. After he retired, his sons continued in the RV business and currently his grandson, Will 3rd, operates the business he loved so much.

Bill is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Billie; his daughter- in- law, Dawn; his son-in-law, Brent; his son-in-law, Jerry; his grandchildren, William, Erik, Jonathan, Matthew, Josh, Novia, Neil, Scott, Lindsay, Mellissa, Michael, Nathen, Garrett, Trenton, Wesley, Brice, Taylor, Addie, Milo, Candice, Brittney, David, Desiree, Shasta, Noah and Cameron; and 42 great-grandchildren.

We will miss his laugh, the sparkle in those Downing eyes, and the sweetness of his spirit. Until we meet again.