Obituary for Billie Hopkins, Sr.
ONAWA, IA - Billie Hopkins, Sr., 81, of Onawa and formerly of Mapleton, IA, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at his home in Onawa. The funeral service will be on Monday, March 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton. Burial will be in Heisler Cemetery in Mapleton. Visitation will be after 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton. The family is accepting condolences online at www.armstrongfuneral.com. Billie A. Hopkins, Sr., lovingly known as Hoppy and Wild Bill, was born to Joseph and Nellie (Bridgeman) Hopkins in Drakesville, IA. When he was a young man, he traveled 205 miles by foot and by the luck of a ride to court his sweetheart, Wilma Pauley. The couple was married on July 6, 1953, in Onawa. They lived in the Castana, Mapleton, and Danbury areas. She passed away on February 1, 2000. Hoppy continued living in Mapleton, moving to Onawa after the tornado hit his home in 2011. Wild Bill worked hard to raise money for his family. He drove a milk truck, was a farm hand, was an operator for Treiber Construction, drove truck for 17 years for Grell Trucking, was school bus driver for Maple Valley Schools, and drove for Sioux City Motor Express and for Independent Wood. Before his retirement, he was owner-operator of his own truck. Hoppy loved fishing and watching NASCAR. He also liked hunting wild mushrooms which he shared with his friends. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and friends. Family members left to treasure their memories of Hoppy included his special friend, Peggy Kunkel of Onawa; three daughters, Karen and husband Richard Belt of Onawa, Mary Hanlin of Duncan, AZ, and Myra and husband Jon "Scooter" Williams of Glide, OR; a son, Tommy of Onawa; 10 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; three brothers all from Albia, IA, Harold "Fuzz" and wife Elaine Hopkins, Joe Hopkins, and Raymond and wife Terri Hopkins; three sisters all from Albia, Diane Miller, Nancy and husband Ron Faber, and Charlene and husband Tom Murphy. Hoppy was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Nellie; his wife, Wilma; a son, Billie Jr.; a granddaughter, Kelly; three sisters, Mary, Patty, and Joy; four brothers, Ron, Jim, Jack, and Kenny; and seven step siblings, Kale, O'Neil, Everett, Velma, Olie, Clarence, and Baby.
Service:
Monday, March 23, 2015 10:30 a.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 S. 5th St. Mapleton, Iowa
Visitation:
Sunday, March 22, 2015 5:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 S. 5th St. Mapleton, Iowa
Read More
Service:
Monday, March 23, 2015 10:30 a.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 S. 5th St. Mapleton, Iowa
Visitation:
Sunday, March 22, 2015 5:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 S. 5th St. Mapleton, Iowa
Loading...