William Fulcher

William (Bill) Carlton Fulcher passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 at his home on the family farm in Alta.

Funeral Mass will take place Saturday, Nov.19, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Catholic Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will take place Friday, Nov. 18, from 4-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake with a KC Rosary at 7 p.m. followed by a parish vigil service.

Bill was born Jan. 12, 1946 in Storm Lake, to George T. and Eileen C. (Landgraf) Fulcher. His early years were spent on the family grain and livestock farm near Fonda. He was an active 4-H member and sports enthusiast. Bill was especially proud of his baseball All-Star awards and leading his 1963 Fonda OLGC High School basketball team as Champions of the Sioux City Diocesan Tournament and being named to the 5-member All-Tournament Team. He spent his first grade and tenth grade years attending St. Francis Xavier & Brophy Prep Catholic Schools in Phoenix, Ariz. He cherished those two years and loved going back to Phoenix often in later years.

After graduating from Fonda OLGC High School in 1964, he attended Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo. for one year. He transferred to Iowa State University and graduated in 1968 with a degree in animal science. On June 13, 1970 Bill was married to Barbara Harryman of rural Manson at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ames. To this marriage were born four children: Kristen, Bret, Curt and Andrea.

After graduation Bill spent 1½ years as a cattle and hog buyer for Hormel & Co. The rest of his career was spent in banking and insurance, with 16 of those years at First Trust & Savings Bank in Alta, including eight as president. In 1996 he started his own agricultural loan company, Midwest Equibanc, located in Storm Lake. He owned and operated his business until 2008, at which time he sold his loan portfolio to United Bank of Iowa and was instrumental in the startup of their bank in Storm Lake.

Bill enjoyed coaching 4-H livestock judging teams, often winning the Iowa State Fair contests and attending national competitions. He also coached his kids’ youth baseball and basketball teams and participated for years himself in adult basketball and softball leagues. In later years he enjoyed being a sports fan and loved his Iowa State Cyclones and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Much of his spare time through the years was spent managing his personally owned farms, including his “Century Farm” originally purchased in 1892 by his great-grandfather, Thomas Fulcher. His family was the love of his life with his wife of 52 years, Barbara, his four children and their spouses, and his 12 grandchildren who made his eyes twinkle with joy. They supplied him with many happy and proud moments with their accomplishments. Bill enjoyed countless hours playing board and card games with his grandchildren and family.

Bill was a member of several organizations including Knights of Columbus, Storm Lake St. Mary’s Church Choir, Iowa Bankers Association, Buena Vista and Iowa Pork Producers and Farm Bureau. His Catholic faith was what directed his life.

After retiring in 2008, he and his wife then traveled extensively over the years to Europe, Hawaii, Ireland, Branson, Alaska and the rest of the 50 U.S. states. Most winters were spent at Sun City Grand in Surprise (Phoenix), Ariz. While there he loved to participate in lawn bowling, bocce ball, table tennis and senior softball, staying active until his final days.

Beloved by his customers and colleagues, Bill was regarded as a wise advisor in many financial matters and a kind advocate for the farmers with whom he worked. His wife and children knew him as the best man that God could have blessed them with. He emanated his Catholic faith, exemplified how to live a life of holiness, and delighted in spending time together as a family. He will be profoundly missed.

Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children: Kristen (David) Heupel of Jefferson; Bret (Kristel) Fulcher of Leawood, Kan.; Curt (Dain) Fulcher of Overland Park, Kan.; and Andrea (Michael) Huelsing of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; his grandchildren: Emily, Aubrey, Katrina and Natalie Heupel; Cale and Isabel Fulcher; Judah Fulcher; and Benedict, Maximilian, Louis, Zelie and Colette Huelsing; his sisters: Sheryl (Jerry) McGowan and Rhonda (Tom) Coon; his brother Tom (Caye) Fulcher; his sister-in-law Marcia (Bill) Rameker; and his brothers-in-law Duane Harryman and Lin (Ruth) Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Eileen Fulcher; Barb’s parents, Lucien and Lorna Harryman; his sister Donna Fulcher Smith; his sister and her husband, Joann Fulcher Walden and Ed Walden.