William Earl Burress was born March 20, 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa the son of Woodrow and Alice (Toulouse) Burress. Bill was raised in Des Moines and graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1960. He enlisted in the United States Army that same year. On August 26, 1961 Bill was united in marriage to Barbara Malcomson. He was honorably discharged in 1966. Bill and Barbara then moved to Las Vegas where Bill worked for the Boulder City Police Department. A couple of years later they returned to Des Moines and Bill worked for the Des Moines Police Department until his retirement in 1984. The couple moved to their acreage near Pleasantville in 1973. Following his retirement, Bill worked as a private investigator. In late 1980’s, Bill formed his own company, American Eagle Investigation.

Bill always found something to keep himself busy, whether he was on an investigation, tinkering in his shop or looking for his next purchase. If nothing else, he was always ready to eat. He was a hard worker and a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Bill passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines, at the age of 75 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Alice Belt and Jim Burress and his son-in-law, Tim.
Those left to honor Bill’s memory include his wife, Barbara; children: Teri (Jeff) Willemsen and their children: Casey, Kelli and Tyler; Woody (Aubrey) Burress and their child, Kassadi and Penny Potter and her children: Rhiannon, Charlie and Samantha; 11 great-grandchildren; siblings: Beatrice Powell and Ruth Fetters; his beloved pets and many other family members and friends.

Funeral Services for Bill Burress, age 75 of Pleasantville will be held on Friday, April 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mason Funeral home. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Pleasantville Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 12:00 p.m. Thursday at the Mason Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Marion County Humane Society or to the Pleasantville Senior Center.