William Jacob Wentworth was born on May 8, 1936, to Blair and Edna (Beck) Wentworth on the family farm, in a house that was built by his great-great-grandfather. He was named after his two grandfathers.

Starting when he was a very young boy, he would wander the countryside as much as possible, exploring it in all its facets. Even though he listed his religion as Lutheran, it was in nature where he found true and everlasting spiritualism. All of his life, he worshiped at the altar of Mother Nature.

Wm. had a quick, inquiring mind. At a very early age his paternal grandmother, who had been a teacher, instilled in him the love of books and learning, which continued the rest of his life. He would very often be seen haunting the public libraries and Goodwill store, enjoying the books and purchasing what he was interested in. During his life, he amassed an enormous collection of books and other reading materials. Literally enough to fill an entire grain bin and more.

He attended Fairfield #1 rural school, as did his parents, and was not allowed to go out for his 1st school recess due to getting in an argument with a much older girl, before school began that day. He always said that he was done with school right then and there. He mentioned how unfair he thought that was often, up to 5 days before his death. Even so, he always deeply cared about his country school friends, and was excited to see them the rest of his life. It is very fortunate that he got to re-connect with so many of them the last months of his life.

After graduating from the rural school, he attended Maquoketa High School, where he met two people who would become very significant in his life. Haven Schmidt became his best friend almost immediately, and, as he often said, if it wasn’t for Haven introducing him to football, he would have dropped out of school as soon as he could. Also, it was with Haven that he met his future wife, at school. He said it was, “Love at first sight.”

After graduating from Maquoketa High School in 1953 he worked on the farm and hired out to neighboring farmers when they needed help. On October 11, 1959, he married Joan Marsha Stoll, his high school sweetheart, at the old Methodist church in Maquoketa. They are said to be the last couple to get married there before it closed.  They had three children together, LuAnn, Don and Carolyn. Joan died on July 24, 2024. Bill had a fatal stroke on the 4-month anniversary of her death and died on November 26, 2024, at the Jackson County Regional Health Center.

During the early to mid-1960s, he worked for the State of Iowa DNR. His job mainly was to haul fish (usually trout) and stock them around the state. One time he was assigned to transport beds to the Anamosa Penitentiary. After leaving the DNR, he worked on the family farm, making numerous improvements. In 1987 he sold his herd of cattle, and about 10 years later he stopped raising hogs. Shortly after he began renting out the land, although he made it clear that he was not retired. To his mind, he never retired.

William is survived by his children, LuAnn (Jim) Goeke of Maquoketa; Don (Carol) of rural Preston, and Carolyn Wehr, of Olathe, Kansas, 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, as well a brother-in-law, Raymond “Rusty” Hayes of Maquoketa, and a 1st cousin he grew up with, Jack Marlowe, of Maquoketa. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joan, his parents, 2 sisters, 1 brother.

Memorials can be made to the family.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.  The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.