William R. Graham

Bill Graham, 71, of Pleasant Hill, formerly of Orient, passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Parkridge Nursing & Rehab in Pleasant Hill. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Creston with Pastor John Van Nostrand officiating. Family will receive friends 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at Moon Cemetery, Macksburg, after a luncheon served following the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Support Services of South Central Iowa Activity Fund c/o Pearson Family Funeral Service. Condolences may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

William (Bill) Robert Graham was born on Jan. 1, 1952, on the way to the hospital on a cold winter’s night in Greenfield. He was not only a New Year’s baby but a special birthday present for his father, Wyman Graham, who was also born on Jan. 1. Bill’s mother, Shirley (Hayman) Graham, blamed the delay getting to the hospital on a football game.

Growing up on a farm, Bill naturally had an interest in agriculture. He participated in 4-H and raised hogs to take to the Adair County and Iowa State fairs during the summer. He was active in FFA activities during high school. Upon graduation, Bill attended SWCC to get his associate of arts degree then transferred to Iowa State University to earn a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and education.

After graduation, Bill worked at an agricultural firm then became an ag teacher at Orient-Macksburg High School. Unfortunately, some health issues and disability cut his career short in the 1980s.

Eventually, he met the love of his life, Alma Leighton, at a Toastmasters meeting in Creston. They were married on Dec. 22, 1991. They loved doing things together and enjoyed traveling. Alma grew up in Maine so they would visit Bill’s younger sister, Mary, and her family in Boston, Massachusetts, then head up to her family’s house in beautiful Winter Harbor, Maine, by Acadia National Park. They looked forward to their travels to many different states on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

Unfortunately, Bill’s health deteriorated, and it was difficult to maintain the marriage, so they divorced in 2015 after Bill moved to Greenfield Manor Assisted Living. Alma passed away shortly after while living and working in Creston.

Bill is survived by his sister, Mary (Rob) Weinstein of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and their daughter, Ali of Studio City, California; sister-in-law, Rosalie Freeman Graham of Lenox and her son David, currently in New York, Lori (Chris) Comstock of Lenox and their children and grandchildren, and Jennifer Moore of Perry, Kansas, and her children and grandchild.

Preceding his death were his former wife; older brother, Ken and parents, Wyman and Shirley.