IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Billy C.
Van Gorkom
October 17, 1937 – November 16, 2018
Obituary
Billy Van Gorkom of Larchwood, Iowa, died on
November 16
, 2018. He was born
October 17
, 1937, in Rockwell City, Iowa, to parents Bill and Elmyra. He was later joined by sister Nancy, who was taking care of Billy at her house in Sioux City right up until his death. Billy graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1955 and then joined the U.S. Navy. He played trumpet in several prestigious Navy bands and, after leaving the Navy, spent twenty years traveling the country as a professional jazz musician.
In 1978, he married Paula (Jorgensen), a fine musician in her own right. Together they raised three kids—Nat (Christina), Josh (Lindsay), and Sarah (Shawn). Despite proclaiming himself “The Meanest SOB in the Valley,” Billy also looked after a variety of domesticated and semi-domesticated animals, including a beloved Dalmatian named Buddy and a cat named Buck. Billy continued playing jazz trumpet locally until the mid-2000s, and he was also an expert woodworker and put shoes on countless horses. Paula died in 2008, leaving Billy without his favorite camping and fishing partner, but he had ten more years with his three kids, his sister, five busy granddaughters (Reid, Rhiannon, Layla, Alex, and Cecilia), two problematic grandcats (Toni and Molly), and many friends.
A party in Billy’s honor will be held in Larchwood in early 2019. In the meantime, any cards and condolences (no flowers, please) can be sent to Waterbury Funeral Service, 400 4th Street, Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054.
In 1978, he married Paula (Jorgensen), a fine musician in her own right. Together they raised three kids—Nat (Christina), Josh (Lindsay), and Sarah (Shawn). Despite proclaiming himself “The Meanest SOB in the Valley,” Billy also looked after a variety of domesticated and semi-domesticated animals, including a beloved Dalmatian named Buddy and a cat named Buck. Billy continued playing jazz trumpet locally until the mid-2000s, and he was also an expert woodworker and put shoes on countless horses. Paula died in 2008, leaving Billy without his favorite camping and fishing partner, but he had ten more years with his three kids, his sister, five busy granddaughters (Reid, Rhiannon, Layla, Alex, and Cecilia), two problematic grandcats (Toni and Molly), and many friends.
A party in Billy’s honor will be held in Larchwood in early 2019. In the meantime, any cards and condolences (no flowers, please) can be sent to Waterbury Funeral Service, 400 4th Street, Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy C. Van Gorkom, please visit our flower store.
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