William Dowling

Hastings resident, William "Bill" C. Dowling, 83, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2013 of an infection at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, August 10, 2013; 10:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church, Hastings with Pastor Tony Dawson, Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Rathod, and Pastor Earl Higgins officiating. Burial will be Saturday, August 10, 2013; 4:00 P.M. in Randolph Cemetery, Randolph, Nebraska. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church or Evening Lions. Visitation will be Friday, August 9, 2013; 1:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church.

William, the son of Orville and Mildred (Jones) Dowling, was born May 4, 1930 at his parent's farm outside of Randolph, Nebraska. He attended School District 38 for his first eight years and graduated from Randolph Public High School in 1949. He played football and track for Randolph High School and boxed in the Golden Gloves with Tiny Lamphear in Norfolk. Following graduation he married Doris A. Cunningham on October 28, 1950. They farmed north of Randolph from 1950-1955 and then he went to work for Carhart Lumber Company in Randolph, becoming their manager a year later. He worked for Carharts from 1955-1974 and traveled selling their component homes the last two years. In 1974, William and Doris moved to Hastings, Nebraska and he worked for St. Regis Paper Company Wheeler Division selling building products until 1986. At that time he went to work traveling for Central Lumber Company in Lincoln, Nebraska selling building products until 1993. While he was working in sales, he won many trips which included Jamaica, Mexico, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. William semi-retired the fall of 1993 and went to work for DLD Builders, helping his son do construction until 2000. In 2000, he went to work for Sunnyside Retirement Center as their maintenance man until they closed in 2003 and then William went to work as the maintenance man for First United Methodist Church of Hastings until an accident forced him to retire in February 2011. William was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hastings and their Methodist men's group, he served on the Board of Trustees for First United Methodist, a member of Evening Lions, member of the Eagles, and Pinochle Club for two years and Sheep Head Club in Randolph. William was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a person that never met a stranger and was proud of the fact that he drove over three million miles while being a salesman on the road without an accident. He loved playing games with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and played cars with anyone who would sit down and challenge him.

William was preceded in death by three infant daughters, Debra Ann, Sally Sue, and Trudi Ferrel; brother, Gaylord; infant sister; parents, Orville and Mildred (Jones) Dowling; father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Nina Cunningham; great-grandson, Blake; great-granddaughter, Peony; nine brothers-in-law; and six sisters-in-law.

Survivors include:
Wife of 63 years: Doris Dowling - Hastings, NE
Children & Spouse: Terry Dowling & friend Ed - Navarre, FL
Danny & Debra Dowling - Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouse: Travis & Sara Dowling - Omaha, NE
Melissa Dowling & friend Michael - Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren: D'Andre - Hastings, NE
Zella - Omaha, NE
Great-Niece: Brenda Vap - Hastings, NE
Brother & Spouse: Robert & Ruth Dowling - Yankton, SD
Sisters & Spouse: Betty Cunningham - Norfolk, NE
Angie & Lyle Neuhardt - Wisner, NE
Sisters-in-law & Spouses: Eva Dowling - Redmond, OR
Leila & Leroy Brummels - Wayne, NE
Flo Lenzen - Laurel, NE
Audrey & George Hinrichs - Laurel, NE
Wilma Wiemers - Laurel, NE
Alice & John Moehlenhoff - Creighton, NE
Numerous Nieces and Nephews