Bill Spurley’s work here is done. A tragic mowing accident cut his life short. But the very act of mowing was a punctuation mark on a life spent as he lived it: focused not only on the job ahead but what it meant for others. Those grassy banks would make deer hard to spot for drivers, so he made sure to keep them cut. William Spurley was born the first of 8 children to Wilton “Pete” and Katherine “Kate” Spurley on his mother’s birthday, August 17, 1951. He worked the land with his parents, growing a love of farming faster than any crop he planted. His mother wanted him to stay in college after his graduation from Iowa-Grant High School in 1969, but the land called him back. He married his first love, Camy Clemo, on July 31, 1971. Together they welcomed three sons: Chad (Heather), Adam, and Travis. Bill Spurley married his lasting love, Ruth Ann Esch, on December 28, 1991. He welcomed three girls, Amy (Bob) Michek, Angela Houghton (Zach Bastian), DaNelle Houghton (Jason Steinbach), as his own as their family grew together. Bill learned a lot from his dad, particularly how good friends make the work a little less so. And Bill had so many. His custom planting and harvesting work took him across several counties, but when the long hours in the combine or tractor were finished, he celebrated. A Friday night fish fry would often find Bill and Ruth Ann at a full table, with Bill sharing a story animated by his trademark head shake, and a smirk that grew to a full-face laugh. He loved the quiet times at home, sitting in his favorite chair next to Ruthie, and sharing his passion for the land and his big boy toys with grandkids every chance he got. For such a tall man, he was good at staying in the background and taking it all in when he wanted. Bill is survived by his mother, Katie, wife Ruth Ann, and kids, who will be charged with telling his best stories to his 17 grandkids. His siblings, Mike (De), Chris (Dan) Seitz, Jerry (Jennifer), Tom (Kayla), Dennis (Pam), and Ron (Kris), and all his nieces and nephews, will no doubt have their own to share. At rest he joins his Dad, Pete; sister Jean; Ruth’s parents; sister-in-law Nancy; brothers-in-law William and Nick; and grandchild Connor. A visitation will be held on June 2nd, 2022, from 3-8 pm at the Soman-Larson Funeral Home, Montfort. In lieu of flowers, the family will be setting up a fund to donate to local charitable organizations.