William H. Jahlas, age 82, of rural Deep River, died Saturday, April 2, 2005, at home with his family at his side. Funeral services for William Jahlas will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 5, at St. John's Lutheran Church south of Victor with Rev. David MacKain officiating. Interment will be at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery with military rites. Casket bearers will be Kim Jahlas, John McCulley, Kenneth McCulley, Chris Struck, Dean Trimpe, and Kenneth Trimpe. Visitation hours will be held from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on Monday, at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor with the Jahlas family present from 6 ' 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be directed to the St. John's Lutheran Church or to Hospice of Iowa County. Bill was born the son of William Johann Jahlas and Maria Burke on June 14, 1922, in Guernsey, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Deep River and Guernsey, where he was educated at rural country school and St. John's Lutheran School in rural Victor. Following his education, he assisted his father on the family farm. Bill was a Corporal in the United States Army during World War II, entering in December of 1942. He served as a mechanic in the First Convalescent Hospital in the areas of New Guinea and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in January of 1946. Bill was united in marriage to Ruth Mae Hessenius on March 1, 1943, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa. To this union were born their children, Dwayne, Edwin, Patricia, and John. The couple resided on their family farm near rural Deep River, where Bill and Ruth shared their lives together farming. Bill held an unconditional love for his church, his family and friends. His hands were his gifts from God, where he used them to work the land, to create beautiful pieces of woodwork, and to share his accordion music with his family. He was a handyman, who knew how to fix about anything. He enjoyed dancing to polka and having barn dances. His family always looked forward to the annual Jahlas butchering, where the family stated nothing went to waste. He was one who would play cards with anyone, not caring whether he won or lost. Bill is survived his wife Ruth of over sixty-two years of rural Deep River; his sons, Dwayne of rural Deep River, Edwin (Connie) of rural Deep River, John (Karen) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his daughter, Patricia (Walter) Van Waus of Worthington, Minnesota; his nephew, Dr. Rodney Wachter of Adams, Tennessee; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren, with a great grandson William arriving in July; his brothers, Harold Jahlas of Lavinia, Michigan, and LaVerne (Erlene) Jahlas of Victor; his sisters, Mildred (Paul) Trimpe of Williamsburg, Iowa, and Marie Trimpe of Williamsburg, Esther (Clarence) Young of Homestead, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Raymond Jahlas; and his nephew, Keith Trimpe.