Guy Calvin Willson, Jr. - Cancelled services

Services on July 13, 2020 at the Za Ga Zig Shrine have been cancelled.

Guy Calvin Willson, Jr. of Des Moines, Iowa (formerly of Altoona) passed away on April 13, 2020 at Luther Park Care facility where he had lived since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago.

Guy was born January 11, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa to Guy Willson, Sr. and Blanche (Peters). He grew up on Des Moines’s Eastside on Lyon Street and attended East High School. He joined the Marines and was stationed in China and Hawaii returning home in 1948.

He Married Shirley Schmidt on June 5, 1949 and to that union had 3 children Pam, Daniel and Jane. He lived in Altoona and co-owned Guy Willson Tile Service for many years. He was on the volunteer fire department, a member of King David Masonic Lodge and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Temple. Toad Valley was his preferred golf course and he played there religiously until he lost his eyesight in the early 2000’s.

He enjoyed fishing and golfing and could tell tall tales about both. He and Shirley had a lake home in Minnesota that they spent their summers, after they both retired. Guy enjoyed teaching his only grandson Eric to fish and to golf showing him all the tricks of the trade. They had lots of special memories and loved to talk about the good ole days when they got a chance. Guy enjoyed playing cards and making fishing lures as well. But what he really enjoyed was his great grandkids when they were little, he would drive them around the yard in his golf cart just for fun and eat snacks just before dinner time because the kids wanted a snack.

Guy is survived by his wife Shirley of nearly 71 years; daughter Pamela (Bob) Ganger of Des Moines; son Dan Calvin (Cindy) Willson of Altoona; grandson Eric (Ashley) Willson of Lovilla; great grandchildren Andrew, Kayla, and Tanner Willson, Jace, Levi, Aiden, and Riliegh; brother Bob (Mary) Willson of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his daughter Jane; parents Guy Calvin Willson, Sr. and Blanche Willson; siblings Mildred, Hazel, Daisy and Barbara, John and Grant.

A celebration of life have been cancelled for 12 p.m., Monday, July 13, 2020 at the Za Ga Zig Shrine, 1100 Shriners Parkway in Altoona. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the Shriner’s Hospital for kids in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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