Bill Sunstrum

Bill Sunstrum: Bill passed away Friday morning at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 1 day. Bill's family includes his wife, Mary of 65 years; a brother, Robert (Patt) of Keller, Texas; a daughter, Barbara (Jim) Lindenmayer of Ottumwa; sons, John (Patti) of Riverside, IA and Peter (Susan) of Redmond, WA; granddaughters: Kate (Jeff) Sunstrum Niedermann of Marshalltown; EJ (Timothy) Sunstrum Lillwitz of Ankeny; a grandson, C. Andrew Sunstrum of Iowa City; granddaughters: Julie Lindenmayer of Miami, FL; Diane Lindenmayer of Brooklyn, NY; and Laney and Nelly Sunstrum of Redmond, WA; ; and great-grandchildren: Porter and Teagan Niedermann and Elliott Lillwitz. William Barnes Sunstrum was born November 19, 1924 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to John F. and Nelle Barnes Sunstrum. He grew up in Oskaloosa and graduated with the high school class of '42. Bill attended Grinnell College for one year, before he was drafted into the U.S. Army on August 27, 1943. He served with the 281st Combat Engineers in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. After his discharge on March 25, 1946, Bill returned to Oskaloosa. On June 25, 1946, Bill married the love of his life, Mary Louise Porter in Oskaloosa. Bill attended the University of Iowa before joining the family business, ""Sunstrum's Store for Men and Boys"" on the north side of the square. The store originally known as ""The Hub"" was in the Sunstrum family since 1914, when his grandfather G.A. Sunstrum acquired sole ownership. Bill's father and uncle Bill bought the store after G.A. died in 1929. In 1946, Bill's father became the sole owner and the store's name was changed to ""Sunstrum's"". In 1957, Bill bought into the store and acquired sole ownership in 1972. Sunstrum's store was known for its quality and variety of clothing for men and boys and is fondly remembered as the place many young men bought their first suit. Sunstrum's closed its doors in 1981, after which Bill worked as a trust officer at Mahaska State Bank until his retirement in 1996. Bill served as board president or as chairman of the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce, Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce Industrial Park, Oskaloosa Civil Service Commission, Mahaska County Community Chest, Elmhurst Country Club, Indian Hills Scholarship Foundation Board, Rotary of Oskaloosa, Iowa State Retail Clothiers, Oskaloosa Retail Bureau, Oskaloosa I-Club and Penn Booster Club; he served on the boards and as an officer of the District Rotary Club, Oskaloosa Community Development Foundation, Oskaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission and the Oskaloosa Bowling Alley. Bill was also a member of the American Legion and St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and treasurer. Bill enjoyed all sports, especially following the Iowa Hawkeyes. He loved the game of golf and he knew all the rules. He took pleasure in the camaraderie, winning the Elmhurst Country Club Championship in 1959 and the Indian Hills Community College Foundation Golf Tournament in 1985 with his partner, nephew Charlie Porter. Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by is brother, Gus F. Sunstrum. PDF Printable Version

Bill Sunstrum

November 19, 1924 - May 20, 2011