William Morrow

Rural Doniphan resident William "Bill" Morrow, 84, passed away at his home on October 20, 2015, surrounded by family. Services with Masonic memorial tribute will be Monday, October 26, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Hastings, NE with the Reverend Kelly Karges officiating. Burial with military rights by the Hastings Veterans Organizations will be at 1:30 p.m. Parkview Cemetery in Hastings, Nebraska. Memorials may be given to the Rosedale United Methodist Church or the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children.

Bill was born on March 12, 1931 in Blair, Nebraska to Dr. Carl W. Morrow MD and Grace Faye Perkins Morrow. As a child, he lived on Whitehorse Indian Reservation, where his father was a doctor. Bill graduated from Hastings High School in 1949 and attended Hastings College, the University of Alaska and the University of Maryland.

Bill was a Master Sargent in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, O'Hare Field in Chicago, Illinois, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and Ft. Meade Army Base in Maryland where he worked as an Intelligence Analyst for the National Security Administration.

On May 24, 1958, Bill married Delores "Dee" Trost in Arlington Heights, Illinois. They were blessed with three children Scott, Cheryl and Dawn.

Bill was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1965 and at that time was only the fifth person to receive the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement. Following his discharge, Bill moved his family to Doniphan, Nebraska. He was proud to be a farmer and became an active member of the Rosedale United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities, including church treasurer.

In 1960, Bill joined the Masons while stationed in the Philippines. He was a member of the Midwest Lodge #317 A.F. & A.M., Hastings Lodge # 50, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Knight Commander Court of Honor, Tehama Shrine, and the Doniphan American Legion. He enjoyed serving an active role in these organizations and was Past Master of Lodge #317 A.F. & A.M. and Hastings Lodge #50, twice Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star and a 33rd Degree Mason. Bill performed Masonic memorial tributes for the funeral services of over one hundred Masonic Brothers.

Bill will be remembered by his son Dr. Scott Morrow, his wife Debbie, and their four children, Erin Morrow Fagan and her spouse Cole Morrow Fagan, Paige and Madison Morrow, and Olivia Delgado, all from Orlando, Florida; daughter Cheryl Morrow and her daughter Eden Faye from Phoenix, Arizona; and daughter Dawn Morrow Nowka, her husband Trent and their son Kyle Nowka, all from Lincoln, Nebraska, and their daughter Kelsey Nowka (fiancée Nate Manderfeld) from Overland Park, Kansas; and Bill's brothers-in-law Leroy "Jay" Helt, his wife Shigeko of Frisco, Texas, and Algird Pakeltis of Crest Hill, Illinois, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

Bill was preceded in death by Dee, his wife of 55 years, his parents, his sister Francis Helt, his brother Robert Morrow, sisters-in-law Mili Morrow and Carol Pakeltis and nephew Edwin Helt.Visitation will be Sunday, October 25 from 1:00 - 5:00 PM, with family present from 3:00 - 5:00 PM.