William John “Bill” Stein was born on July 3, 1954, to Carl and Helen (Leinen) Stein in Portsmouth, Iowa. Known to all as “Bill”, he was the ninth child of the 14 children born to Carl and Helen. Bill grew up on the family farm. As a boy, he attended school at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, where he was also baptized and later confirmed.
Following his graduation from Harlan High School in 1972, Bill earned degrees in electronics and business from Iowa Western Community College and later Buena Vista University. He lived a short while in Omaha, settling later in Council Bluffs and married Jane Ryan, to whom he was married to for over 20 years. They had three children together: Julia Anne, Jill LeAnn, and Daniel Thomas. Bill was later a resident of Thurman, IA, with his second wife of over 10 years, Laura. The marriage dissolved in 2020, and Bill remained a bachelor for his remaining years.
Professionally, he held few but lengthy tenures, most recently with Teledyne-Cetac of Omaha, where he was employed for over 25 years. He was a valued employee until his retirement in 2021.
He was a loyal fan of the local baseball team, participated in a bowling league, enjoyed time fishing and being outdoors, and spent much of his time restoring and maintaining his car collection. When he wasn’t working in his garage, he liked to listen to a selection from his vast library of music, or to professional baseball games (especially his beloved KC Royals) while he worked around the house and in his yard. Though he enjoyed his solitude, Bill was known for his quick wit and sense of humor, filling a room with contagious laughter as he poked fun and teased those around him.
Bill was a meticulous homekeeper; his tidy and well-maintained home was a reflection of his discipline, pride and strong work-ethic. Bill was also very proud of his family. He had an unbreakable bond with his many siblings, with whom he would share much of his free time when he relocated to Harlan in 2021. He delighted in time spent with his three children and eleven grandchildren.
Bill entered peacefully into rest on his 69th birthday on July 3, 2023. He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Helen; brothers Robert, Donald, Peter, and James; sisters Theresa Stein and Dorothy Gross; and grandson Harrison William Stein.
Bill is survived by his daughters & spouses Julia (Stephen) Kats and their daughter Stevie of Tampa, FL; Jill (James, Jr.) Barger and their children Jonah, Madison, Julia, Chloe, Bert and Brody of Omaha, NE; and son & spouse Daniel (Jessie) Stein and their sons Everett, Howard, and Gavin of Council Bluffs. Surviving brothers, sisters, and in-laws: Alfred (Jeanne) Stein of Lansing, IA, Patty Stein of Portsmouth, IA, Darla Stein of Storm Lake, IA, Pat (Randy) Pash of Harlan, IA, Carl (Sandy) Stein of Odessa, MO, Kenny (Julie) Stein of Portsmouth, IA, Larry (Carol) Stein of Portsmouth, IA, Paul (Denise) Stein of Amana, IA, and Mary (John) Murtaugh of Harlan, IA; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, July 10th at 10AM at the St. Mary’s Our Lady of Fatima in Portsmouth. Family will greet friends Sunday, July 9th from 1PM to 3PM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. Burial will be at the St. Mary’s Cemetery. The Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
