William (Bill) Stewart of Surprise, Arizona, the son of Wayne and Avis Mardelle (Stanley) Stewart, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at his home in Surprise, Arizona, at the age of 66 years, 6 months, 22 days. A native Iowan, Bill was born October 14, 1955 at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. He graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1974. After relocating to Arizona, Bill married his best friend, Laura Marie Webb, in Sedona, Arizona on November 17, 2000 which was the beginning of a loving and happy marriage. Bill had two adult children from a previous marriage, daughter Natasha Kading who has two children of her own, and son Justin Stewart.
Following high school, Bill worked as a long distance truck driver and as a builder of highway bridges across the country. In 1980 he attended auction school as his father had done before him. Bill had a long and successful career as an auctioneer. His auction highlights include real estate, antiques, business liquidations, charity fundraisers and automobiles, including 20 years working at Barrett-Jackson Auction Company in Scottsdale, Arizona.
During his accomplished career, Bill worked charity auctions for a host of worthy causes, including Muhammad Ali’s “Celebrity Fight Night” to benefit research into Parkinson’s disease. He also supported other organizations focused on children with disabilities or health issues such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Bill’s commitment to charity auctions was captured in his words: “When I’m done, I have a deep sense of accomplishment and feel like I’ve done something good to help others.”
From a very young age, Bill was passionate about cars, motorcycles and any other wheeled vehicle. He and his Dad constructed a prize-winning motorized float for Audubon’s 16th annual T-Bone Day parade in 1966 when Bill was only 11. Throughout his life, his interest in anything with “motors and wheels” never faded.
Bill’s generosity of spirit, love of life and remarkable story-telling ability would brighten up gatherings with family and friends until the very end.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Mardelle Stewart.
Bill is survived by his wife Laura (Webb) Stewart; daughter Natasha and husband Kevin Kading of Clive, IA and their two children; son Justin Stewart of Iowa City, IA; sister Marla Stewart and her husband Wayne Svoboda of Brooklyn, NY; sister Jennifer Stewart also of Brooklyn, NY; mother-in-law Kathy Webb of Aberdeen, SD; and three Webb brothers-in-law—Kevin of Norman, OK, Stephen of Los Angeles, CA and Daryl of New Berlin, WI and their families. There are also many dear friends who were an important part of Bill’s life.
The family will meet for visitation with friends on Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Kessler Funeral Home, 515 South Division Street, Audubon, Iowa 50025. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis at 10:30 a.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon on Saturday. Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon followed by a luncheon at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center. Bill’s casket bearers will be Randy Blohm, Reece Blohm, Randy Williams, Kevin Webb and Daryl Webb.
