Obituary of William L. Fahy

William L. "Bill� Fahy, 87, of Muscatine, died Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at Unity Hospital. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2005, at the Grace Lutheran Church, 2107 Cedar Street. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2005, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Pastor Don Sondrol will officiate the service. Casket bearers will be John Gabriel, R. D. Oppelt, Jason Hepker, and Bill Ziegenhorn. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Following the committal service, there will be a time of food and fellowship at Grace Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Lutheran Homes, or the donor�s choice. Online condolences for the Fahy family may be left at www.wittichfuneralhome.com. Bill was born on February 26, 1918, in Muscatine, the son of Walter and Ida Eberling Fahy. He married Arbutus Kill on December 20, 1942, in Muscatine. She preceded him in death in February of 2003. He was a graduate from Muscatine High School in 1936, and graduated from Muscatine Community College, the US Army Clerical School in Camp Grant, Illinois, and the Columbia School of Newspaper Management. Bill served in World War II from 1942-1946, serving as Sgt. Major of Classification Office of Adjutant General in London and Paris at Allied Headquarters. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal. Bill was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and was in the confirmation class of 1931. He served as President of the Iowa Lutheran Young People in 1941. He served as a member of the church council, sang in the choir, and co-chaired the drive for the new church. He was also a member of the Iowa Daily Press Association serving as president in 1975, Central States Circulation Managers, American Newspaper Publishers Association, Inland Daily Press Association, International Ad Executives Association, and member of Newspaper 50 year Club. Bill was elected to four terms to the Muscatine School Board and served as president. He was a charter member of the Elks Chanters and was with the Chanters for 42 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club, Muscatine Club, YMCA Board, and Muscatine Ad Club. He was Jaycee Boss of the Year in 1979. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Muscatine Community College in 1982. He was a member of the Iowa Hawkeye I Club since 1970, being a season ticket holder for over 40 years. He worked 50 years at the Muscatine Journal starting in the circulation department in 1932; in 1946, he was in local advertising sales and department manager. In 1965, he became business manager and in 1970, he became Publisher until his retirement in 1982. He won three national advertising awards in the 1960�s for Paetz Grocery, Sternamen Clothing, and Beach Lumber. He pioneered full color advertising for hot metal press with Del Monte fruits. He also introduced offset computer printing at the Journal. Survivors include one son Terry W. Fahy and wife Debbi of Lyons, Colorado; one daughter Robin Killeen Taylor and husband Tim of Muscatine; three grandchildren Sandrine Gabriel and husband John Jr. of Muscatine, Tara Oppelt and husband R.D. of Muscatine, and Jason Hepker of Muscatine; one step-granddaughter Sonya Ziegenhorn and husband Bill of East Muscatine, Illinois; seven great grandchildren Jackson, Kate, Sophie, Gabriel, and Emma Oppelt, and Maya and Alyson Ziegenhorn; two brothers Richard Fahy and wife Le Orra of Muscatine, and Ivan Fahy and wife Betty of Scottsdale, Arizona; one sister Marie Schenkelberg of Cedar Rapids; one sister-in-law Eunice Fahy of Bettendorf; and 13 nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arbutus, one brother Robert Fahy, and one brother-in-law Richard Schenkelberg.