WILLIAM JAMES HOUCK of Decatur, Nebraska, passed away on February 23, 2010 at Logan Valley Manor, Lyons, Nebraska.  He was 80 years of age.

Bill was born April 5, 1929, in Nappanee, Indiana, and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  He won several state honors in football and swimming while in high school.

After graduating from Albion College, Albion, Michigan in 1951, Bill joined the United States Air Force and served as a pilot during the Korean War.  Upon leaving the Air Force, Bill spent many years doing sales and marketing work for the Argus Camera Company of America and College Life Insurance Company of America.  During those years, Bill and his family lived in Buffalo, New York; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Salt Lake City, Utah; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1977, Bill relocated to the Lyons, Nebraska area and started a small dairy business, which he operated until 1986.  Several small businesses were then started, the most notable being “Doctor Popper” which was set up and managed in Oakland, Nebraska.

Bill had three great passions; his garden, the game of golf, and Michigan football.  Golfers in Oakland looked forward to the garden harvest “Down the Middle Bill” would bring and donate each season.

In 2001, Bill helped start the “Junior Golf Endowment Fund” at the Oakland Golf Club.  The fund awards scholarships to high school golf team members that are affiliated with the Oakland Golf Club.

Bill is preceded in death by son, Daniel; 2 sisters and 1 brother.

Bill is survived by his wife, Susan of Decatur; three children,  Julie Houck and her husband Mark Gilliland of Kula, Hawaii; Lucy Comella of Indianapolis, Indiana; Charles and his wife, Charini of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three step children,  Tina Kellogg and her husband Shannon;  Nicole Kampa and her husband Chester all of Decatur;  Damon Schmidt of Onawa, Iowa; sister and brother- in-law,  Rachael and her husband Norman McCormick of Brighton, Michigan;  brother-in-law,  John Borgerson of Long Creek, Oregon; 10 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren.

Bill requested cremation and that no service be held.  Memorials can be made to “The Junior Golf Endowment Fund” at First National Bank Northeast, Lyons, Nebraska.

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