William Francois

Bill Francois, 87, died Friday, September 16, 2011 at Senior Suites of Urbandale. A graveside service will be held at Glendale Cemetery on Friday, September 23 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service and celebration of his life at 2:00 p.m. at Senior Suites, 4700 84th Street in Urbandale.

A native of Chicago and a graduate of Steinmetz High School, Bill enlisted in the US Army at age 18; and as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII made countless jumps in battles across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East earning many medals and citations.

After his honorable discharge in 1945, Bill received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in journalism from Northwestern; then embarked on a career as a newspaperman for 10 years on the Newcastle (IN) Courier-Times, the Idaho State Journal, and the Dayton Journal Herald. He began a new career course as a university professor of journalism and mass communications, received his doctorate at Ohio State, and taught at Marshall University (10 years) and Drake University (15 years) where he took early retirement in 1984 with the distinction of a new title as Professor Emeritas.

While at Drake, Bill took a leave of absence to serve as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Mass Communications at American University in Cairo, Egypt (1979-81). Later Bill traveled as a US State Department lecturer (1983-84) to graduates and faculties at universities in India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii (East-West Center Fellowship), and other countries in Asia and the Pacific.

But Bill wasn't ready to retire yet. He continued to teach and chair journalism departments at other universities including Wayne State University, California PolyTech University in San Luis Obispo, and the University of North Florida. Finally before really retiring, Bill was the recipient of a 1987-88 Fulbright Distinguished Lecturing Award which took him as a lecturer to many universities in Seoul, Korea (4 months).

During his distinguished teaching career Dr. Francois wrote 6 books, over 200 magazine articles, and was the recipient of many honors and awards.

Bill was a man who made a difference in people's lives. He will be remembered by his family, former colleagues, students, and friends as a man who had an indomitable spirit and work ethic; whose stellar integrity, loyalty, honesty, citizenship, and an innate sense of fairness and responsibility raised the bar for all who knew him well.

Bill enjoyed writing, hunting, fishing, gardening, and spending time with family members whom he loved very much. Bill's memory will be cherished by his beloved wife of 67 years, Irene; his daughter, Louise; his son-in-law, Doug; and his two grandchildren, Maria and Andrew.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.