William J. Hall Jr.

William John Hall Jr, affectionately known as Bill, beloved husband to the late Mary (Krusenstjerna) Hall, passed away surrounded by his family in his home on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. He was 2 months away from his 100th birthday.

Bill was born on September 26, 1926, in Saranac Lake, NY. He spent his childhood in this picturesque, historic village nestled in the Adirondack Mountains. He was the youngest of three children and adored his sister Alice and brother Ray. He enjoyed all things in nature and outdoors, which continued as passions, throughout his life. He was an outstanding athlete and competed in traditional high school and college sports as well as being an avid skier and fisherman.

At age seventeen, Bill joined the Navy during World War II. He served primarily aboard an LST-class ship and worked as a coxswain on a Higgins landing craft. He was deeply proud of his service and, after completing it, used the GI Bill to attend college.

He aspired to have a career in education and joined his like-minded friends to head west to Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado. The institution is now known as the University of Northern Colorado. While waiting tables in the college cafeteria he noticed a beautiful brunette who he fell in love with and eventually married. Bill and Mary worked as teachers in Greeley while Bill finished his master’s degree. Mary was homesick for Iowa and wanted to raise their future children close to her mother and father in Odebolt, Iowa, so they settled in nearby Early, Iowa. During that time, Bill was the principal of the high school and coached football along with girls’ basketball and track. They made a good life there and welcomed all three of their children into this close-knit community.

Bill and his family moved to Sioux City in 1965, where he accepted a role at Sioux City East High School as a guidance counselor. Bill loved this role assisting students with planning their futures. He continued in the position of guidance counselor until retirement in 1988.

Bill always lived his life with a mindset that continuous learning was essential to a fulfilling life and that outlook took him to new adventures in retirement. He became a master gardener and tended gardens at home as well as his church, Faith United Presbyterian Church and was the "Rose Man", at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. He volunteered for organizations including building houses for Habitat for Humanity and working as a timekeeper at the Sioux City Relays. He was a guest speaker for various organizations discussing his experiences in World War II and was a proud member of the American Legion where he made lifelong friends. Bill and Mary enjoyed traveling to Florida and New York to visit their sons and their families.

Bill was a man of strong faith and a devoted member of Faith United Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Deacon. He was proud of his children and grandchildren and kept close tabs on their lives. He and Mary would host their grandchildren from out of state during a week in the summer where they would attend the Lamb Theatre Summer Camp and bond with everything Iowa had to offer. Always a champion for the underdog, he devoted his life to lifting others up and leading by example. He was a true hero to his children and their families.

Bill was also an avid golfer and played with his friends almost daily during the week when Sioux City courses were open. During the winter, he honed his skills by swinging his irons in the living room for hours on end. Bill was also a loyal fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and recorded every football game for post analysis breakdown. During the Major League Baseball season, he could be found in his living room watching every Cubs game televised. He followed up the games by reading box scores in the newspaper and could tell you most key stats of the game if asked.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (Krusenstjerna) Hall; son, Gregory Hall; sister, Alice; brother, Ray; mother, Hazel; father, William Hall Sr; and countless friends he had made through his long life.

Left to honor his memory are his son Greg's widow, Dacey Hall of Larchmont, NY, and their children Whittemore, Austin and Abigail; his son, David and wife Patty Hall of Palmetto, Florida along with their children, Holly, Mary, and David; his daughter, Pam Hall of Sioux City and her children Jason, Aaron, and Jordan; along with spouses and children.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 11, 2026, at Faith United Presbyterian Church (time TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill's honor to Faith United Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, Iowa.