William "Bill" Paul Lombard, Jr.

NOTICE: Inwood, IA

     William Lombard, Jr., age 86, of Inwood, IA died Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

     A Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA with Fr. Sunny Dominic, Celebrant. 

     Visitation will be Friday, June 7, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, with the family present at the Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. Also there will be a vigil service at 7 PM, at the church. 

     Jurrens Funeral Home of Larchwood is in charge of services.

William Paul Lombard Jr., “Bill” passed away on June 4, 2024 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota after a brief illness. Born on November 5, 1937, in Saco, Maine, Bill was the son of William Paul Sr. and Ruth (Charles) Lombard. He grew up in the communities surrounding Saco and Biddeford, Maine, spending his time beneath the piers at Old Orchard Beach and fielding ground balls at third base.  As a young boy, Bill was a Boston Braves fan and followed the Braves ever since. Bill attended Thornton Academy, graduating in 1955. Following his graduation and a few years working, he boarded a Greyhound and embarked on a journey to Iowa State University on a baseball scholarship, often hitchhiking between his east coast and midwest homes. He pursued a degree in Secondary Education with a focus in physical education and social studies and joined the U.S. army reserves. He was a member of the national guard and ROTC. In 1962, he furthered his academic pursuits and obtained his Master’s degree as an educator from Colorado State College.

     On January 20, 1962, Bill married Carol Kathryn Connors, in Barnum, Iowa. They established their first home in Barnum, where Bill worked as a teacher and coach in the local school district for 10 years. In March 1968, they welcomed their only son, William Paul III, 'Billy' in March of 1968. In 1972, the couple relocated to Inwood, Iowa, where Bill continued teaching high school social studies, driving school bus, and coaching girls’ sports at West Lyon for 25 years. He retired from full-time teaching in the spring of 1997, coaching in 2008, and bus driving in 2019 leaving behind fond memories of a committed coach, captivating storyteller, and passionate wildcat to generations. Bill was recently voted into and soon to be inducted posthumously in the Thornton Academy Sports Hall of Fame for the sports of baseball and basketball.

     Those celebrating Bill's life and legacy include, his wife Carol Lombard, their son Bill Lombard III of Inwood, Iowa, and his granddaughters Tara (Lucas) Bouwman of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Katrina Lombard of Wayne, Nebraska, as well as great-grandchildren, Declan and Liesel Bouwman. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Peg Riley of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Kathy Lombard of Scarborough, Maine, as well as two nephews, Lester Connors and James Maclaughlan, and niece, Lisa Lombard.

          As Bill rounds third and heads to his eternal home plate, he is reunited with his parents William Sr. and Ruth Lombard, his brother Robert Lombard, daughter-in-law Trish Lombard, and his brothers-in-law Patrick Connors and Jim Riley, along with many other cherished family members and friends.

     In Lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Dougherty Hospice, St Mary's Parrish, West Lyon Girls Athletics or the Inwood Kids Club.

Blessed be the memory of William Paul Lombard, Jr.

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