William T. “Bill” Gordon, 78, of St. Paul died Saturday, March 27, 1999, at his daughter’s home in Albuquerque, N. M.

Services will be Wednesday, March 31, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Michael McDermott will officiate.

Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul, with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen and American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. A vigil services will begin at 7 p.m. at the church.

William T. “Bill” Gordon was born May 30, 1920, to James B. and Louise (Van Ackeren) Gordon in Cedar Rapids.

A graduate of Cedar Rapids High School, he married Daphne M “Bobbe” Smith on Nov. 28, 1942, in Cheyenne, Wyo.

In partnership with his father-in-law and brothers, he formed S. E. Smith and Sons Lumber Company, with locations in Cedar Rapids, Greeley, Fullerton, St. Paul, Ansley, Anselmo, Broken Bow and Blair.

He was a World War II U. S. Army veteran. During his years of service, he was a Normandy Commission D-Day member.

He served with the Eighth Air Force on the Battle of the Bulge and fought in two North African campaigns and five European campaigns.

He was honorably discharged having attained the rank of Major.

He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119, both of St. Paul; V.F.W. Post 854 of Fremont; Elks Lodge 604 of Grand Island; Knights of Columbus Council 1312 of Greeley; 40 & 8; St. Paul Chamber of Commerce; Blair Chamber of Commerce; and golf country clubs in St. Paul, Fremont and Fountain Hills, Ariz.

He was a benefactor to many local causes and charities and put numerous students through college.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Judith Gordon of Albuquerque, N.M., Deby Imes and husband, Leonard, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Robyn Gordon of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sons, Bill Gordon and wife, Nancy, of Indianapolis, Ind., and James “Barney” Gordon and wife, Nancy, of Omaha; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Ray Gordon and Jim Gordon, both of Cedar Rapids; and one sister, Helen Gordon Thompson of Madison, Wisc.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice, Howard County Historical Society, St. Paul Library Foundation or the Howard County Community Hospital.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

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