William E. Sales, Jr. (1 of 2)

William Edward Sales Jr., age 66, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Surrounded by family, Bill died in his home following a one-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born May 7, 1944, in Long Branch, New Jersey, where his father was stationed with the United States Coast Guard during World War II. His family soon returned to Des Moines, where he was raised.

Bill is survived by Annette Marie (Rivard) Sales, his beloved wife of forty-eight years. Bill and Annette met while stationed in El Paso, Texas, serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. They were married March 23, 1963. Bill and Annette returned to Bill’s hometown with a baby daughter, where they built their life together through a shared philosophy of hard work and short-lived debts.

Coming from meager beginnings, Bill’s hard work and dedication culminated in his role as Senior Vice President of Lomar Distributing, a local distributor of gourmet and specialty foods owned by Hy-Vee. Bill made himself a success through his incomparable work ethic. He began his career as a salesman with Feinberg Distributing, among others, and soon moved to Lomar, at the time a relatively small, family-owned business.

His career, which spanned forty years, was an integral part of who he was. He was proud of his position and consistently demonstrated an example of loyalty and obligation to all those with whom he did business. Bill had a keen eye for products with potential for success. Even when he wasn’t working, Bill never missed an opportunity to network. His family was often witness to his easy transformation from “Bill” to “Bill Sales, Lomar Distributing,” marked with a kind handshake and a genuine smile.

Bill enjoyed traveling for business and recreation. He loved riding his Harley, especially with Annette in the passenger seat. Together they racked up miles from Florida to the Black Hills to Nevada to Wyoming. In less than six years, his motorcycling passion grew from two wheels to three and he left rubber on forty-some thousand miles of U.S. Highway.

The opening of walleye season in Wisconsin was always a special event; he rarely missed a chance to go fishing with his brothers-in-law and nephews. He shared many a holiday and special event with his wife’s brothers and sisters, and his friendships with them were as strong as any blood relation.

Around home, Bill could often be found tinkering with one project or another. Together, Bill and Annette were undaunted by home improvement tasks of any size; be it landscaping, yard work, remodeling, and even the occasional Harley upgrade.

(continued as William Sales Part 2)

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