William (Bill) Caughey Jr., 91, of Chicago, Illinois and formerly of Grinnell died on Monday, August 25, 2008, in Chicago, IL. A joint memorial service for Bill and Ginny Caughey, who passed away on August 3, 2008, will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Grinnell. A private interment will be held on Friday at the Poland Township Cemetery near Marathon, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Grinnell United Methodist Church, the American Stroke Association or to the American Alzheimer's Association. Bill was born on July 15, 1917, in What Cheer, Iowa to William and Ella Caughey. He grew up doing what he loved the most - farming. He was married to Esther Virginia (Ginny) Caughey on June 1, 1940 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They had three children, Suzanne, Curtis and Jean. Germano Silverira, a Rotarian exchange student from Brazil came to Grinnell in 1970 to live with them and have remained close of these years! Bill had a Ford tractor business as well as a coal, fertilizer, and seed company. He later joined the Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and then went into a partnership with Richard Zobel at the Grinnell Insurance Agency. He served as the first mayor of Oakland Acres near Grinnell as well as all around handyman there. He was Past President of the Area Six School Board, Marshalltown Junior College, the Grinnell Rotary Club, which he was a 40 year member, and the Grinnell Country Club Board of Directors. He received his Masonic Degree in 1939 and was a fifty year member. He volunteered his time at the Grinnell United Methodist Church, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, and with the Iowa's SHIPP program with Beryl Clotfelter and Jack Templeton. Bill was a man who constantly gave back to his friends, neighbors and the community of Grinnell. When there was a need he was there to offer a hand.. He never walked away from an opportunity to help others. Bill had a knack for striking up conversations with people all over the world. He enjoyed any opportunity to meet and learn about people. A treasured memory for him was playing a round of golf with Ray Nitschke, the famous linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. Not only did Bill birdie a hole, he had a final score of 45 to Ray's 43. He was an avid fisherman, golfer, and bowler. He loved the Iowa Hawkeye's and could watch a game on television while listening to yet another game on the radio. As a youngster in What Cheer he had the opportunity to play against the Harlem Globe Trotters on a number of occasions. Bill and his wife started a stroke support group in Grinnell that they felt was most beneficial to patients from the Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Bill's greatest treasurers were his family. He had six grandchildren: Matthew Billingham, William, Rachel and Anna Caughey, and Joshua and Katie Bunger. His daughter-in-law, Angel was a blessing to him in so many ways. His two sons-in-law, Lowell Bunger and David Billingham were men he admired and enjoyed. He is survived by his children, Suzanne (Lowell) Bunger of Byron, IL, Curtis (Angel) Caughey of Breckenridge, CO and Jean (David) Billingham of Chicago, IL; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginny Caughey on August 3, 2008; his parents and two sisters, Margaret and Lois. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorials may be directed to the Grinnell United Methodist Church, the Alzheimer's Assocation or to the American Stroke Assocation and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.