Allen "Al" G. Williams

Allen "Al" Williams, 74 of Hastings, IA, passed away on October 12, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak, IA. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern, IA. Burial will be in the Malvern Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Memorials: Directed to the family

Allen George Williams, the older of two children of George Alfred and Marjorie Elaine (Van Orsdel) Williams, was born on January 13, 1942 in rural Hillsdale, Mills County, Iowa. His parents purchased a farm one mile east of Strahan, Iowa in January of 1946 and he, his parents and sister moved there. Al attended the Strahan Consolidated School. He was a member of the Future Feeders 4-H Club. He raised and showed hog, chicken, sheep and cattle and received many 4-H awards.

Al began farming at an early age. His love for farming and raising livestock continued on throughout his life. The first tractor he bought was a 1942 9 N Ford for $500.00 from his Grandpa William Jacob Van Orsdel. Included in the purchase were a two-bottom plow, point blade, lister, scoop, rear 5 ft disc, rear-mount sickle mower, a wagon and a 2-pen hog shed. It took him almost three years to pay it off.

Al was a member of the Strahan United Methodist Church. In 1977, he built his own mini rod tractor. Al was a member of the Southwest Iowa Mini Rod Tractor Association and won many tractor pull trophies. He and his brother-in-law, Bill Kite, also built model boats and airplanes.

Al really enjoyed outdoor life. In 1984, he started his own greenhouse, aptly named "Al's Greenhouse, growing vegetables and flowers. That little business kept him busy and lasted for 15 years.

Al had a great sense of humor, an infectious laugh, and enjoyed telling tales and jokes and spending time with family and friends. He and his sister Marilyn, when growing up, argued and got into a lot of things, which was typical for siblings, but Al was really a wonderful son, a great brother and a good friend to all who knew him.

In 2010, Al had to quit farming due to macular degeneration of the eyes and it was getting more difficult for him to see. He turned the farming over to his neighbor, Dave Bowen, to do it for him. Al lived on the farm all his life up until August 9th of this year when he became sick. His plan was to return to the farm the latter part of this month.

Al passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak, Iowa on October 12, 2016 at the age of 74 years, 8 months, and 29 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Marjorie Williams; brother-in-law Bill Kite; and grandparents, William and Lottie Van Orsdel and William and Ethel Williams; and extended relatives.

Al is survived by his sister Marilyn Sue Kite of Pacific Junction, IA; his beloved border collie Mistie 5, which he thought the world of; and many cousins, friends and neighbors.