Wiley Ball

Wiley J. Ball, age 82 of Fredericksburg, Iowa died Thursday December 18, 2014 at his home. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2014, at the Hillcrest Baptist and Brethren Church in Fredericksburg with Pastor Todd Yeaton officiating. Mary Davis will be the organist accompanying Laurie Carolan and Peg Hanson on vocals. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetary, Fredericksburg with Wiley's seven grandsons, Alan, Cory, Jason, Isaiah, Nicholas, William and Jordan as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Harry Ross, Bill Hurd, Max Crabtree, Dan Carolan, Jason Woodring, and Amy Warnke. Friends may greet the family 3 - 6 p.m. Saturday, December 20, 2014, at Hugeback- Johnson Funeral Home in Fredericksburg. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. Wiley was born June 15, 1932 in Stephens City, Virginia, to Wiley W. and Rebecca L (Sutherland) Ball. He attended Fredericksburg High School and graduated in 1949. Wiley joined the U.S. Navy on June 15, 1949 and was stationed with the Commander Naval Forces Marianas and aboard the USS Atlas until his discharge in June of 1953. On May 14, 1954, he married Mary V. Simon at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Hampton, and would spend 60 years together raising their seven children. Wiley lived in Fredericksburg most of his life and worked at Titus Manufacturing in Waterloo. He owned and operated Wiley's Tap in Fredericksburg, and owned and operated a farm outside of Fredericksburg until his retirement. He participated in the Iowa-Minnesota Chuckwagon Racing Association for forty years as both an outrider and later as a judge. He was also a member of the AmVets for many years. Wiley will be especially remembered as a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye fan, being a ticket holder for many football seasons, attending games with family and friends. He enjoyed watching most sporting events, most notably football, baseball and basketball. Survivors include his wife, six sons, William (Barb) of Fredericksburg, Masten of Fredericksburg, Russell (Debbie Heldt) of Sumner, Michael (Barbara) of Allison, Casey (Shelley Langfitt) of Windsor Heights, Christopher (Sandy) of Wilton, one daughter, Marjory (and Joseph) Ball Williams of LaFargeville, New York, one sister, Peggy Peterson of Chico, California, one sister -in- law, Betty Tylee of New Hampton, 17 grandchildren, four step grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, four step great grandchildren, two nieces, and four nephews. Wiley was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, William V., his brother and sister-in-law, Masten A. and Frances, two brothers-in-law, Robert Peterson and Bill Tylee, and one nephew. A special thanks to St. Croix Hospice, Palmer Hospital and Dr. Zuercher of West Union, and numerous family members and friends for their help and support.