The Life of WILLIAM EDWARD SALES Jr.
William Edward Sales Jr., age 66, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Surrounded by family, Bill died in his home following a one-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born May 7, 1944, in Long Branch, New Jersey, where his father was stationed with the United States Coast Guard during World War II. His family soon returned to Des Moines, where he was raised.
Bill is survived by Annette Marie (Rivard) Sales, his beloved wife of forty-eight years. Bill and Annette met while stationed in El Paso, Texas, serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. They were married March 23, 1963. Bill and Annette returned to Bill’s hometown with a baby daughter, where they built their life together through a shared philosophy of hard work and short-lived debts.
Coming from meager beginnings, Bill’s hard work and dedication culminated in his role as Senior Vice President of Lomar Distributing, a local distributor of gourmet and specialty foods owned by Hy-Vee. Bill made himself a success through his incomparable work ethic. He began his career as a salesman with Feinberg Distributing, among others, and soon moved to Lomar, at the time a relatively small, family-owned business.
His career, which spanned forty years, was an integral part of who he was. He was proud of his position and consistently demonstrated an example of loyalty and obligation to all those with whom he did business. Bill had a keen eye for products with potential for success. Even when he wasn’t working, Bill never missed an opportunity to network. His family was often witness to his easy transformation from “Bill” to “Bill Sales, Lomar Distributing,” marked with a kind handshake and a genuine smile.
Bill enjoyed traveling for business and recreation. He loved riding his Harley, especially with Annette in the passenger seat. Together they racked up miles from Florida to the Black Hills to Nevada to Wyoming. In less than six years, his motorcycling passion grew from two wheels to three and he left rubber on forty-some thousand miles of U.S. Highway.
The opening of walleye season in Wisconsin was always a special event; he rarely missed a chance to go fishing with his brothers-in-law and nephews. He shared many a holiday and special event with his wife’s brothers and sisters, and his friendships with them were as strong as any blood relation.
Around home, Bill could often be found tinkering with one project or another. Together, Bill and Annette were undaunted by home improvement tasks of any size; be it landscaping, yard work, remodeling, and even the occasional Harley upgrade.
As Bill begins his journey to Everlasting Life, he joins his mother, Gladys Louise (Priebe) Sales, who passed away when Bill was only twelve. Also preceding Bill are his father, William Edward Sales Sr., mother-in-law, Marcella Anne (Cernohaus) Rivard, brothers-in-law, Harold Sanford, Bob Gennrich, and Nick Riley.
Carrying on in Bill’s absence are his wife, Annette, his daughter, Lisa (Jim) Reimers, son, Will (Kendra) Sales, grandchildren, Amanda (Mike) Ramberg, Andrew Bradford, James Reimers, Anthony Hall, William E. Sales IV, and a baby girl due May 31, and great-grandchildren, Jeremiah Zigler and Caitlyn Ramberg.
His extended family includes his Aunt Mary Byerly, his siblings, Joyce (Gary) Shoeman, Sandra (Harold) Sanford, Janelle (Leroy) Tassin, Steve Sales, Mark (Sherry) Sales; half-sister, Pam (Nick) Riley; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Catherine (Bob) Gennrich, John (Mary) Rivard, Yvonne Brown, Frank (Jan) Rivard, Marie (David) Garton, Rita (Dave) Swanson, Alice (Irv) Kooiman, Mary (Shane) Evans, Ed (Annette) Rivard, and Nancy (Tom Huppert) Rivard. Bill leaves a warehouse-sized crowd of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Bill will be missed severely and remembered fondly by family, friends, colleagues and co-workers. His career, his projects, his hobbies, his passions, his generosity, his gifts, his humor, his commitment to his wife and family; all things he touched and all things that touched him, he did it big. He didn’t do anything half-way.
Bill joined the Catholic faith through the RCIA program in 2003. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church, where he enjoyed serving as a Eucharistic Minister.
Bill’s Family will celebrate his life at All Saints Catholic Church located at 650 NE 52nd Avenue, Des Moines. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m., with Prayer Service to take place at 6:30 p.m. The funeral mass will be held Wednesday, April 20, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome gifts to one of two charitable organizations: IDEAS (Isodicentric 15 Exchange Advocacy & Support) or Kiwanis Miracle League of Des Moines.