William Dee "Bill" Imes

1943 - 2023

William "Bill" Dee Imes

April 20, 1943 - April 3, 2023

"We tore down that field on our horses, kicking up mud, every chance we got." William "Bill" Dee Imes never lost his youthful, cowboy thirst for adventure on his wild ride across this world. On April 3, 2023 at the age of 79 and in a peaceful sleep, Bill's blue eyes always alight with wonder and engagement fixed his sights on the next great journey with our Lord and Savior. He leaves an incredible legacy to his wife of 55 years, four children, seven grandchildren, sisters and in-laws, and the countless friends, acquaintances and passersby who would stop to listen to one of his stories. He left us with an inheritance that can never be spent down: generosity, grace, and a reflective spirit that is always moving forward.

His journeys began on a farm in Wauseon, Ohio where he learned to plow a field and ride a horse, used his mom's prized tulips for target practice (maybe this is where he learned grace), drag-raced down County Road H (he won), learned to work smarter not harder from his father, and developed a love of The Ohio State University Football with his mother, and pick up his sisters' friends for dates in his 1964 Corvette.

He met the love of his life and partner, Jane Imes (Hanifan), when she pretended not to know how to fill out a 4-H form so she could ask him for help. Together they built a life filled with adventure, love, laughter, and four kids! Their love even survived a disastrous Christmas early in their marriage when he bought her a welder-grade blow torch as a "thoughtful" gift to help her make crème brulee. He used this story â€" and frankly many others â€" to teach us all that mistakes happen and the important thing is to make it right and move forward. From that day on, he rolled up money on a cardboard tube and hid it in the Christmas tree so Jane could buy herself the gifts she truly wanted. Even in his final days, Bill's thoughts were with Jane, and he made sure that she would be taken care of after he was gone.

Bill was a man who gave everyone a second chance and never judged people based on their worst mistakes. As a former high school teacher, custom home builder, golf course investor, African imports owner, generous landlord, and proud OSU Redcoat at the age of 78, Bill was a man of many talents and passions. He was always looking for ways to make a positive impact on the world and never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Forever the shop and science teacher, he taught his children how to dock the tail of a lamb, wrangle a hog, use a pulley to work smarter (just like gramps!), rig up a golf cart to speed down the fairway, take a Class A 30,000 pound motorhome up a crisscross mountain pass without going over the cliff, jump into action as the pit crew for a Baha 1000 race with zero experience, trick the luggage scales at the Nairobi International Airport, and not to fear a drill gun "because that's what hole putty is for". He taught us to shoot-then-aim, celebrate the close-enough wins, and recover from the big misses to keep moving forward.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Jane Imes; his children, Bryan Imes (Susan Imes, granddaughter, Aliyah, grandson Micah), Jean McIntyre (David McIntyre), Stephen Imes, Jennifer LuPiba (Pete LuPiba, granddaughters, Sally, Corazon, Grant, and grandsons, Lincoln and Washington); and his sisters, Diane Shull and Pat Gerken. He is reuniting with his parents, Stephen and Wava (Burkholder) Imes; family and friends who are already tearing down the field on that next great adventure.

A Celebration of Life Service with a reception to follow will take place Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the New Life Alliance Church (7215 Noward Road, Waterville, Ohio 43566).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to New Life Alliance Church (https://www.mynewlifealliance.org/online-giving) or Hospice of Northwest Ohio (https://www.hospicenwo.org/landing-pages/main/giving/).

Bill will be remembered for his dancing blue eyes, inspiring (and long, like turn-the-lights-out-at-church long) stories, and unwavering kindness. Thank you, Bill, for the generosity, grace, and the spirit to always move forward. Until we ride up next to you again, you will be missed.

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