William Earl Kukral

1951 - 2024

William (Bill) Earl Kukral

February 15, 1951 - March 31, 2024

WAVERY - William (Bill) Earl Kukral, age 73, of Waverly died Sunday, March 31, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family.

Bill was born in Cresco, Iowa on February 15, 1951, to Edward and Bonnie (Wilson) Kukral. He was the eldest child, followed by Charles, Michael, Carol and Robert. The family made their way to the Waverly area where Bill attended school from third grade up to graduation from Waverly-Shell Rock High School in 1969. He met Nancy Haa while she was attending Wartburg in Waverly, and they were married June 8, 1974, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Their daughter Katherine (Katie) was born four years later. Bill and Nancy made their home on an acreage north of Waverly, where they have spent the last 47 years.

Bill worked various jobs throughout his life, but spent the majority of his working years welding until retirement. Retirement came with a new title of truck driver for his son-in-law Troy. He would continue to help Troy until his health told him he was done driving truck. But he did remain Troy's "weldor on retainer" until the grandsons took that task over.

If you knew Bill, you know that he did things his own way. For good or bad, those ways raised a daughter who could take care of herself. He never had to worry about her working in male dominated professions. In fact, at times he felt sorry for the guys she worked with. He taught his grandsons, Toby and Tyler, the same life lessons. He loved to share stories with those boys about his younger years, though some of them should never have been repeated. Through example, he taught those boys grit and how to weld, and instilled in them a love for blue collar work. In their younger years, Toby and Tyler would attempt to get Grandpa into trouble with Grandma, as his punishment was to go shopping, which he hated. But they loved it! As the boys got older, the mischief just got bigger. They all enjoyed rides in the restored AMX, target practicing, and teasing grandpa. Bill rarely missed a trap meet that Toby and Tyler were shooting at while they were in high school.

Bill and Nancy spent the first part of their marriage working, taking care of the acreage, and many, many weekends cutting wood. The lifelong memories made cutting wood with the Brinkman family are stories still talked about today. Bill enjoyed his horses as a teenager and was able to have horses again at their acreage for years. Later in their marriage, they found the time to take several trips and enjoy visits with family and friends.

Bill is remembered by his wife Nancy, daughter Katie (Troy) Resor, grandsons Toby and Tyler, brothers Mike (Lisa) Kukral and Rob (Vicky) Kukral, sister Carol (Dave) Gomez, brother and sisters-in-law Paul & Randy Haa, Bob & Sue Haa, Ginny & Jim Kamper and Milly Kukral as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and his honorary son Dave (Angie) Floyd.

Bill was welcomed by those we've lost before: his parents, his brother Charlie, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Bill has been cremated. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 12, at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly where family will greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waverly. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran School or Cedar Valley Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com. 319-352-1187