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Bill J. Alberhasky
William “Bill” Alberhasky, 78, lifelong resident of Iowa City passed away on Thursday May 5th, 2022. Bill’s family will greet friends 4 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Lensing Funeral home and Cremation Service in Iowa City. A celebration of Life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service. Interment and military honors will immediately follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. John William Charles Alberhasky was born May 31, 1943 to John Raymond and Erma Marie (Petrak) Alberhasky. The 2nd of 7 children, Bill was the eldest male and man of the house until his father returned from serving in the Navy after WWII in 1945. Bill spent his childhood mentoring (terrorizing) his siblings and was rewarded by being the only man in the house to have his own room, a privilege not even his father had. He enjoyed walking around on stilts (for what reasons no one could remember), playing baseball, and practicing extensively with his prize bb gun, which would serve him well in the Navy. Bill attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, City High School where he graduated in 1961 and St. Ambrose University. From 1964-1967 Bill served in the Navy aboard the USS Hermitage LSD-34 during the Vietnam Conflict. His extensive practice as a child shooting his BB gun earned him top scores in marksmanship and a job as Gunners mate. He was so good, others that wanted to qualify on weapons had to take a class from him. During his service, his ship hit a mine and almost sank. Despite his exemplary record of hitting targets, Bill was not driving when the ship bullseyed the mine, but he would proudly tell you he was one of the few who stayed onboard and worked to right the ship. After his military service, Bill returned to his roots, his love, and his family business. On October 28, 1968 Bill married Sheila Kay Stramp at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Through their 48 year marriage, Bill and Sheila enjoyed entertaining and going out with friends. They loved to travel around the United States to see relatives, especially in the later years going to see their daughter, Debra and her family. Bill loved to golf with Sheila, his kids, and anyone else who might want to walk around chasing a little white ball. He was an expert at billiards, but only on the home table under house rules which stated Alberhasky always wins, and if 2 Alberhaskys’ are playing, the elder always wins. Bill was a grill master, making the best steaks on Columbia Drive. He was a master turkey carver, able to slice and dice the moist turkey (prepared by his wife) or the arid and crispy version (prepared by Doug’s wife) with ease. Bill loved a good single malt scotch, a good port, very fine wine and after years of prodding by his sons, even a good beer. Bill is best known for his lifetime at the family business, John’s Grocery. Since his father bought the business in 1948, Bill has worked at the store. At 5, he was tall enough to see over the counter so he could help customers, a guideline all his siblings and later his children and grandchildren also met. For over 70 years, employees came and went, but Bill was there, working alongside his parents, his siblings, his children and his grandchildren. Bill worked at John’s longer than any other person in the history of the store. He took tremendous pride in being in at the beginning, and poured blood sweat and a lot of elbow grease into keeping up with trends, technology and creating a niche which has sustained multiple local families for decades. Bill was the workhorse, the drive, the guy who taught half of Iowa City how to properly mop (the Navy way) and the warm wit with a dry sense of humor guy who carried the ball and threw it at Doug’s head. Remembering Bill are his 3 children: Doug (Sabrina) Alberhasky of Iowa City; Michael (Anne) Alberhasky of Iowa City; and Debra (Jim) Van de Ven of Long Lake, MN; his grandchildren: JD, Jessica, Olivia, and Ben; his siblings: Joan (Jerry) Van de Voort, Jerry (Bette) Alberhasky, Ron (Linda) Alberhasky; Tim (Joan) Alberhasky, Beverly (Dean) Miller, and Lora (Randy) Miller; along with extensive extended family and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents in 2010, and his wife Sheila in 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice who were so helpful to the Alberhasky family and Bill through the final days with his parents and his wife.May 31, 1943 - May 5, 202205/31/194305/05/2022
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Bill J. Alberhasky
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