James William (Bill) Hunziker, age 98, of Edina, MO, passed away Friday, May 21, 2021, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, MO. following a short illness.
He was born at home April 13, 1923, the son of Herbert Henry and Ruth Baker Hunziker of rural Knox City. He was united in marriage to Willa Jane O’Neal on April 23, 1946, at Knox City, MO and she preceded him in death on November 18, 2006. Also preceding him in death were his parents and two sisters— twin Betty (Richard) Morgan of Springfield, MO and Mary Jane (Ole) Dahle of La Belle.
Surviving are two children, Margaret Ann Ritter of Kansas City, MO, and Kenny Hunziker and wife Lois of Knox City, MO; nine grandchildren: Rhett Hunziker and wife Barb, Heidi Meyer and husband Gordon, Jeremy Hunziker, Seth Hunziker and wife Chelsea, Mark Ritter, Nikki Ritter, Ryan Ritter and wife Audrey, Justin Ritter and wife Melissa, and Kristin Ritter and husband Mark Land; twenty great grandchildren, and numerous neices and nephews.
Bill was a 1941 graduate of LaBelle High School and afterwards attended Gem City Business College in Quincy, Il. He served his Country in the United States Army Air Corps during WW II as a nose gunner on a B24 bomber based in southern Italy. Bill got a kick out of telling people the name of his plane was the “Miss I Hope”. After coming home from the war, Bill married Willa O’Neal, the pretty new teacher at the Jeddo one-room school. They started their married life south of Knox City where Bill was engaged in farming—a career he dearly loved—and where Willa delighted in cooking for her hardworking husband. Bill and Willa were dedicated members of the Presbyterian Church in LaBelle, MO until 1995 when they retired and moved to Edina. There they became active in the Edina United Methodist Church. Bill was a faithful donor at the blood mobile and enjoyed going to the nutrition site and was an avid reader. He was a mild-mannered, modest man with a great sense of humor His greatest joy was in spending time with his family and friends. He had an undying love for his country and was a true Patriot. His example of how to live the good life has undoubtedly played a major role in shaping the character of all who knew him.
Visitation will start Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 12 noon and funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Edina, MO. Reverend Graig Connell will officiate the services. Burial will be in the LaBelle Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be Rhett Hunziker, Jeremy Hunziker, Seth Hunziker, Mark Ritter, Justin Ritter, and Gordon Meyer.
Memorials are suggested to the Knox County Nutrition Site or Knox County Nursing Home. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1, Edina, MO, 63537.