back to home page  

back to KHS Teachers

back to Klemme School

Willis A. Storer

1880 - 1974

 

 

W. A. Storer, 94, dies

Willis A. (Bill) Storer, 94, of 720 N. Federal, a retired Mason City educator and longtime school band organizer, died Sunday morning at a Mason City hospital.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr. Lyle W. Lieder officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation is at the Major-Erickson Funeral Home until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Mr. Storer's career in music education began in 1922 when he was granted permission by the school board to organize the Lincoln Band. He wasn't officially recognized as a teacher until 1927, but served in the school system until retiring in 1949.

Storer participated in most of the North Iowa Band Festivals, his last being the 31st one in 1969. Storer organized the Holy Family-St. Joseph's Catholic school band in 1965 in time for it to participate in that years band festival.

Storer was born near Sheffield and was educated in area schools. He taught in Sheffield, Thornton, Swaledale, Clear Lake, Rudd, and Garner schools before coming to Mason City. He was credited with helping start thousands of children in musical careers.

He is survived by one son, Alfred, Phoenix, Ariz.; five daughters, Mrs. Lein E. (Charlotte) Snell, Mason City; Mrs. Henry (Etabelle) Beinke, Waterloo; Mrs. William (Eleanor) Colby, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Roy A. (Esther) Bonner, Bradford, Ark,; and Mrs. Marshall (Winifred) Blake, Seattle, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Oak (Daisy) Newcom, Santa Ana, Calif.

source: Globe Gazette, mason City, Iowa, 15 Apr 1974, page 4, column 4

 

************************************************************