Bill Ramsden
September 20, 1942 ~ January 11, 2017
William 'Bill' Lee Ramsden, 74, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017, due to complications of Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD). A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, January 15, 2017, at Indian Creek Nature Center 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Warren; daughters, Ann (John) Bodensteiner and Miriam (Christopher) Selusi; grandchildren Alicia Ramsden and Jessica Ramsden; great-grandchildren, Avery, Adrian, and Sofia; step-sons Zach, Joshua, and Gabe Boyd; and loving brother, Jim Ramsden.
Bill was born September 20, 1942, in Fort Dodge, to Francis 'Bill' and Norma (Holt) Ramsden. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids where he was an all-city football player. Bill graduated Cum Laude with honors from Mount Mercy College in 1974. He retired from the Iowa Department of Human Services after 33 years. Bill enjoyed traveling, especially on cruises with his family, was an avid Hawkeye fan, and enjoyed daily hiking at the Indian Creek Nature Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Judy Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to dementia research.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Our condolences to you Lois and the rest of Bill’s immediate family: Ann and John, Miriam and Chris, Alicia, Avery, Adrian, and Antonio, Jessica, Sofia, Ricardo, Jim and Bill’s nieces and nephews. It’s been a difficult few years for you since Bill was diagnosed with dementia. He’s in a far better place than he’d been for sometime, and it’s with gratitude we recognize his relief from pain and suffering. May you find relief in the upcoming days.
Mary Ramsden and Steven Brown
I love you mom! Thank you so much ❤
Lois, Jim, Ann and Miriam,
It was Mom and my desire to be there with you this Sunday, but unfortunately the weather (ice storm) will not permit us traveling there. Billy was just an amazing cousin! He loved his extended family so much. I think Grandpa Holt had a special attachment to Billy, being that he and Norma were there with them during the time Bill was in the war. Oh, the Christmas celebrations we’d have at Grandpa Holt’s. One year, Billy brought all the young cousins the same gift — super balls! The were a special rubber that had the ball bouncing higher each time. They must be banned because I haven’t seen them since. Grandma giggled seeing all those balls bouncing in her house which was a rarity because she was so busy cooking. My Dad enjoyed them as well, until their inevitable destructive values had the elders swishing us outside. (They seem to leave a mark on whatever they bounced off off; the ceiling suffered the most). Family meant everything to Billy, extended and immediate. He had an identifying compassion as if he lived through every sorry; he could relate so well. Committed to the heritage of the family, he tried not to loose track of anybody. And that grin of his — it always had a mischievous lure to it. Know that we have fond loving memories of Bill(y). Our Prayers and love are with you you all. Love, Kim (Holt) Wells and JoAnna (Holt) Mishler
Jim/Kevin, so sorry to see from The Gazette obituaries of the loss of your brother/uncle. I did not know Bill but wanted to extended my sympathy for the loss of a close family member. Wilma (Shebetka) Porter (Kevin Ramsden-Meier’s aunt).
Jim, and family, so sorry to hear about Bill .Please accept our thoughts and prayers.
We will try to make it Sunday?
Tom Gallagher & Sue Coleman
I’m so sorry I didnt see this in time to come to his Celebration of Life today. The entire Ramsden family were my first friends when I first moved to CR before 9th grade in 1981. I grew up with all of you like my 2nd family for years. Bill was like a 2nd dad to me, I spent so much time with all of you & have so many great memories. Going to Fort Dodge to see Grandpa Holt, staying at Cedar Wood Hills, going downtown for fireworks & laughing with him, he had a great sense of humor. I’m so sorry for your families loss, he meant so much to so many. I’ll miss him & remember all the good times we had for so many years. Sending hugs & prayers to Lois, Ann, Miriam & your families. 💛
I must say, I have a lot of memories of Billy from my childhood as he would always visit us in Las Vegas. I believe thanks to him, we continued to keep in touch with the Ramsdens. My very first memory I can remember of Billy is when I was probably 3 or 4 years old. He was visiting us and staying at our house. I remember it was morning time and my Mom was making breakfast. I was standing inside of the kitchen looking out, but I was the only one that saw Billy quietly tiptoeing up to the kitchen. He looked at me and put one finger in front of his mouth signaling for me to “shhh”, he then playfully scared my parents. I of course giggled, and thought he was fun. I never forgot that memory of him, as it was the perfect first impression of him, and who he was. A person that was always smiling, with a calm demeanor and a great sense of humor. The family and I all have very warm and loving memories of Billy and we send our love and prayers to you all. Lots of Love, Jamie Ramsden