Rev. Wilbur "Willy" Morfitt

Reverend Wilbur "Willy" L. Morfitt, age 89 of Nevada, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Windsor Manor in Nevada.
Willy was born July 18, 1936, in Harris, Iowa, the son of Russell and Ettla (Sorensen) Morfitt. He attended country schools in Osceola, County and one year at Harris. In 1945, the family moved near Everly where Willy attended Waterford #4 country school through eighth grade. He then attended Everly Community School and graduated in 1954. Following graduation, Willy started farming on his own in 1956 near Everly. In June of 1957, he was united in marriage to Betty June Speck, and they moved to a farm on Business Corner in 1958. To this union, two sons were born, James William and Tommy Lee. In 1960 they moved to Melvin and farmed there until 1984 when they moved to Hartley.
Willy was involved in the United Methodist Church and attended the Annual Conference every year beginning in 1966 until recently. His dreams were realized when he was selected to go with a group of Iowa Men to Ghana, West Africa and then went back to Ghana a few years later to demonstrate the Self-Help Tractor.
In 1995, Willy and Betty divorced and he became the local pastor in the United Methodist Church. At the age of 59, he accepted the appointment to the Richland United Methodist. Willy attended Course of Study School in Kansas City for five years and graduated on August 4, 2000. He spent eight years at Richland, and they were some of the most fulfilling years of his life. On August 10, 1996, Willy was united in marriage to Vivian Wilhite of Richland. He retired from the ministry in 2003 and moved to Nevada. In the fall of 2006, he was asked to fill the pulpits of the Collins United Methodist Church and the Loring United Methodist Church. Willy also filled in at the McCallsburg Presbyterian Church for a year and helped at several other churches in the area.
Willy held may positions in the United Methodist Church on the local, district and state levels. He was active with the United Methodist Men and served as vice president of the Iowa United Methodist Men's organization. Willy served on the program review and nominations committee of the Iowa Annual Conference. He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club in Melvin and was a devoted member of the Lion's Club in Hartley, Richland (past president) and Nevada (past president). Willy also served on the Hartley Hospital, Farm Bureau Board of Osceola County as well as the Hartley Community Building Board.
Outside of church, Willy loved to play golf and play cards, although he wasn't very good at either. It never suppressed his enthusiasm or his frustration, and his fellow players put up with many displays of a good winner or a bad loser. Willy and Vivian loved to travel and when his family was young, they went on many camping trips and Christmas trips to Florida. He loved sports of all kinds, and especially loved cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and attending any school activities that his boys and grandchildren were involved in.
Willy and Vivian were able to fulfill dreams of traveling to far away places including Israel and Egypt and taking a cruise to Alaska. They were able to travel to Scandinavia where Willy was able to meet with relatives of his mother's family in Denmark and a year later to the British Isles. Willy and Vivian also traveled the United States extensively and were able to take a trip to Switzerland.
Willy is survived by his wife, Vivian; two sons, Tom (Roxy) Morfitt and Jim (Robin) Morfitt; three step-daughters, Pam McDermott (Jim), Mary Joan (Stan) Arnold, and Cindy Chapman; 13 grand and step-grandchildren; six great-grandsons; three great-granddaughters; three brothers, Bob (Barb), Fred (Mary Ann) and Mike; and three sisters, Karen Sackville, Sandra (Ron) Kirk and Susan Fairchild (Jerry Carlson).
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service honoring Willy's life will be 1 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Nevada First United Methodist Church (1036 7th Street ) in Nevada. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/n-6UDjQOeJ4?si=9qzr_vlcsUNyb5-h. Visitation and refreshments will follow the service at the church in the fellowship hall. Willy donated his body to the University of Iowa and burial will be at a later date at Brooks Cemetery near Hedrick, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to Families Forward (Bidwell Riverside) or the Nevada First United Methodist Church.
Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada has been entrusted with the arrangements for Willy. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.