In loving memory of

Bil Harmison
February 24, 1932 - June 4, 2015

Bill Harmison, age 83 of Prairie City, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Mitchell Village Care Center in Mitchellville. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. Burial will follow at Vandalia Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Colfax Fire Department and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
The son of Albert and Harriet Harmison, Bill was born on February 24, 1932, in Vandalia. Bill ran the Derby gas station in Colfax for years and also farmed and drove a truck later in years. He served as the mayor of Colfax for one term and was a volunteer on the Colfax Fire Department and Ambulance crew for many years. Bill's favorite hobby was polka dancing with his love, Lucille and they traveled around Iowa to attend various polka festivals.
Those left to honor his memory include, the love of his life, Lucille; sons, Mike (Vicki) of Venice, Florida, Mark (Jeri) of Colfax, and Eric (Lori) of Des Moines; a brother, Clarence (Lois) of Denver, Colorado; a sister, Janice Brouwer of Des Moines; a sister-in-law, Darlene Harmison of Bluegrass, Iowa; seven grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parent's, one sister, one brother and one grandchild.

Tributes

Jeannie Owens wrote on Jun 7, 2015:

"Bill was only five years older than me, but he and his brother, Sonny, were the "big boys" in school and in the winter would help make large tunnels in the snow for us smaller ones to crawl through. My Dad and Mom owned the store in Vandalia, which was the favorite place for the older men in town to "hang out". Bill and Sonny would come over some evenings and the older gentlemen would want them to put on a boxing match. They usually did. My Dad pushed things back and the boys had their boxing ring. When it was over the fellows would throw coins on the floor for the boys to collect. I really can't remember whether they decided on who did the better boxing that night, or whether it was just a good night of entertainment!!! By the time I came along, Vandalia, which had been a thriving town in its day, had dropped to a village of two churches, a one-room school house where the five Harmison kids and I attended (and my brother to fourth grade) when it was closed and the kids were bused to Prairie City. Bill's dad, Albert, had a barbershop in one room of their house and our store, Miller's Grocery, completed "our town". Since the family lived right across the street from us, Bill's younger sister, Janice and I were best friends as we grew up. Vandalia was a small town, but we had a lot of fun sliding down the big hill in front of the store during the winter. It was a real winter joy for the older and younger kids alike, and the older kids watched out for the younger ones on the "busy" Vandalia street!! The Harmison's all married and moved away from Vandalia and I married and moved to Indianapolis, IN, so our paths haven't crossed much. However, there were many good memories in Vandalia which I will never forget, and Bill's big smile was one of them. My sympathy and prayers for comfort are sent to the family. Jeannie (Miller) Owens "

Debbie Glenn wrote on Jun 6, 2015:

"My fondest memory of uncle Bill was when I was a child he came to Seattle for a visit with his sister Margaret ( my mother) we went to the woodland park zoo, It was a wonderful day walking around and seeing all of the animals,my favorite was the elephants they were so big,at that moment I saw uncle Bill as a very tall man he seemed so big to me and I saw him as a kind gentle man.once as a child I went to Iowa with my mom we were at uncle Bills house and he had a horse named trigger he put me on triggers back and the horse followed uncle Bill everywhere he walked,I thought it was such a cool trick to have a horse follow you like a dog would.The last time I saw my uncle was at my mothers celebration of life.I always looked up to my uncle though we didn't stay in touch.my mother would tell me how he was doing and that him and Lucille liked to dance,I saw a DVD of the two of them at a dance,they danced so smoothly together it was good to see the two having a great time with each other.I will miss you uncle Bill but I know that your with loved ones that left before you,what a wonderful reunion for you. Tell mom I love her for me,I love you uncle Bill. "