GEORGE W.  WILLIAMS, 88, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Thursday morning, July 4, 2019 in the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 13 ^th , at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Rev. Jeff Harris will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa with military rites by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W. and the Cherokee American Legion. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Visitation will be on Friday, July 12 ^th from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church or the Cherokee Depot Renovation.

George was born in Everly Iowa on October 16, 1930 to Charles and Lois (Cogdill) Williams. The Williams family moved from Everly to Afton Township outside of Cherokee when George was in the third grade.

He graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee in 1949 and continued to help at the family farm. In 1952 George joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in Hawaii.  After his return to Iowa, he began his career with the Illinois Central Railroad, where he worked for 33 years.

George married Geraldine Clauson on January 9, 1966 in Webb Iowa. They enjoyed hiking, roller skating, music, swimming, fishing and biking.  He rode Ragbrai until at least 1994. George and Geraldine were world travelers and were known for picking up rocks and shells during their travels.  This collection has been shared amongst his nieces, nephews, and their families.

George and Geraldine were members of the First Baptist Church on Willow St in Cherokee. He was a member of the V.F.W., Little Sioux Spoke Folks and Retired Railroad Workers Association.

George spent the last five years at The Gardens in Cherokee where he kept a smile on the faces of everyone who met him.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Geraldine on April 5, 2012, a brother Gene Williams and his wife Darlene Williams, and brother-in-law Jerry Goodburn.

He is survived by one brother and one sister: Irvin "Bluegrass" and Opal Williams of Cherokee Iowa, Margie Goodburn of Cherokee, sister-in-law Darlene Weigart of Storm Lake, IA, as well as many adoring nieces and nephews, great nieces, nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.