William Buell Gode, Jr.'s Obituary
William B. Gode Jr. (Bill) passed away on March 15, 2025 at the age of 92 at Murphy Place Assisted Living facility in Corydon, IA. He was born October 25, 1932, the son of W. Buell and Helen (Christiansen) Gode at Jane Lamb Hospital in Clinton and was baptized at Grace Episcopal Church.
Bill graduated from Lyons High School in 1950 and attended Clinton Junior College. After graduation, he attended Iowa State University, but was drafted and inducted to the U.S. Army and had basic training in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He graduated from leadership school in Chaffee and was sent to Camp Stoneman in Pittsburgh, CA, where he served as cadre for troops going overseas. Finally, it was his turn and he was charge of quarters on the Marian Adder troop ship and landed in Sasebo Japan, then on to Inchon, Korea.
He was attached to the 244th Field Artillery Battalion. They supported I Corps Artillery in the Wi Jon Bo and the Chorwon Valley. He was later transferred to the Battalion. Headquarters where he worked for the Sergeant Major's office. After returning to the states, he was part of the Division Surgeon's office at Fort Riley, Kansas.
After leaving the service with an Honorable Discharge, Bill re-enrolled in Iowa State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture specializing in Horticulture. He especially liked his years at Iowa State where he met his soon to be wife, Connie Jo Keller. They were married October 26, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Corydon, Iowa.
They traveled several Midwestern states inspecting flower shops and greenhouses for Florists Transworld Delivery Association, who was Bill's employer following graduating from Iowa State University. They moved to Detroit, Michigan, the corporate headquarters for the Association, where Bill worked in customer relations and public relations and advertising.
The decision to move to Corydon came swift and unexpected after going through Detroit riots and the loss of a good friend to a street robbery and murder. The decision was a good one and the Keller Flower Shop, Connie's parents' business, flourished and Bill and Connie built a new flower shop in that same location on the town square.
Connie passed away in May of 1999 and has been sorrily missed. Bill continued in the business with the help of excellent employees. He sold the flower shop, but continued to stay active in the community; City Council, Hospital Board, Prairie Trails Museum, Summer on the Square, Corydon Old Settlers Celebration and Wayne Theatre were some of the projects in which he was involved. Bill was especially proud of being named Iowan of the Day at the Iowa State Fair, Corydon's Old Settler of the Year and was a 50 year member of the Corydon Lions Club. Bill believed volunteerism is important for the health of small-town Iowa.
He is survived by his brother-in-law, Maurice Mooney of Harpers Ferry, niece Erin (Brad) Berns of Waukon; nephew Greg (Erin) Mooney of West Salem, WI; and great nieces and nephews Brock, Brigid, Brenna, Carson, Kyla, Jake and Reese, special friends and care takers, Tracy (Steve) Thomas.
He is proceeded in death by his best friend, partner and wife, Connie Jo; his parents, W. Buell Gode and Helen Christiansen Gode and sister Janet Kay (Gode) Mooney and nephew, Mark Mooney.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon. Interment will immediately follow at Corydon Cemetery with Military Rites. Visitation with family will take place at the funeral home, Saturday March 29, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A public viewing will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Memorials have been established to The Wayne Theater or The Wayne Community Foundation, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Gode Family, 303 E. Jefferson, Corydon, Iowa 50060. Condolences may be shared at www.thomasfh.com or facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
Bill's Service can be live-streamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/william-bill-gode
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