William D. "Bill" Bottoms, age 85, of Eau Claire, died October 13, 2014, at Chippewa Manor Nursing Home in Chippewa Falls, WI. Bill was born September 1, 1929, in Storm Lake, IA, the son of William and Eleanor (Golda) Bottoms. Bill was a veteran having served with the USAF in the South Pacific. As a member of the VFW, he served as Iowa State Commander and edited the Iowa and Wisconsin state newspapers. Bill authored the first published history of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. He published a trilogy: Purloined Pines, Times and Tides and End of an Era. He also published Carnage by Committee. Bill was currently a member of VFW Club 305, and had been associated with VFW Post 8512 in Almena, WI. Bill is lovingly survived by his wife of 45 years, Marjorie; daughters, Deborah Bottoms Johnston of Bettendorf, IA and Melodie Bottoms Robson of Muscatine, IA; son, W. Joseph (Shari) Bottoms of Muscatine,IA. He is further survived by his niece, Cathy Schuett of Hadar, NE; his nephew, Brian Scollard of Ponca, NE; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol Scollard and her husband, Don Scollard; nephew, Pat Scollard; and son-in-law, Gary Buffett. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 418 N. Dewey St. Eau Claire, WI, with Father George Thayilkuzhithottu officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2014, at the WEST CHAPEL of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave. in Eau Claire and again one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Burial will take place on Monday, October 20, 2014, in Northern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Beaver Brook Township at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be sent to the VFW Unmet Needs Fund at VFW Headquarters, PO Box 6128, Madison, WI 53716. For online condolences, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com
Service Information
Cemetery
Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery
N4063 Veterans Way
Spponer WI 54801
Visitation
Friday, October 17 2014
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral & Cremation Services West Chapel
1405 North Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703
Visitation
Saturday, October 18 2014
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
North Dewey Street & Division Street
Eau Claire WI 54701
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, October 18 2014
11:00 AM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
North Dewey Street & Division Street
Eau Claire WI 54701
