Obituary of Bill Headley

HEADLEY WILLIAM

William J. ‘Bill’ Headley age 85 of Menno, SD passed away Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno, SD.  Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, December 30, 2024 at the Salem Reformed Church, Menno, SD with Rev. Michael Hecht officiating.  Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites by the Rames-Bender American Legion Post #152 and the US Air Force Honor Guard.  Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Sunday, December 29, 2024 at the Salem Reformed Church, Menno, SD and then one hour prior to the service at the church.  The Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD is assisting with the service details.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. 

To live stream Bill’s service, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/1w9JP.

William J. “Bill” Headley

Former Hutchinson Herald editor tells his last story –

William J. “Bill” Headley, 85, passed away after a brief stay at the Menno-Olivet Care Center early Sunday morning, December 22, 2024. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 30 at 10:30 am at the Salem Reformed Church, Menno, with Pastor Michael Hecht officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday, December 29 from 5-7 pm and one hour before the service at the church. There will be a prayer service Sunday at 7:00 pm. Burial will be at the Menno Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites by Rames Bender Post 152 and the US Air Force Honor Guard.

Bill was born on July 19, 1939, at the Methodist Hospital, Mitchell, SD to Jasper E. and Helen (Preszler) Headley. He joined three older sisters: Nadine, Nona and Eileen.

Bill was baptized and confirmed in the Menno Evangelical United Brethren Church and remained a member there until transferring his membership to Salem Reformed Church.

He attended grade school and graduated in 1957 from high school in Menno. During high school, Bill was active in music and all sports and held local school and state track records (including the 440-yard dash) for several years. In his senior year their six-man football team went undefeated and was the number one team in the state according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Following graduation, he attended South Dakota State College. After disruptions from work, military obligations and other circumstances, he graduated with a BS degree in Printing Management in 1967. At college, he participated in band, track and baseball.

He worked with his father at The Hutchinson Herald newspaper and coached Menno and Olivet youth baseball and basketball and was part of the local league baseball team.

In 1962, he joined the South Dakota Air National Guard in Sioux Falls and spent several months active duty as an Air Force Aircraft Fire Fighter and Rescue Specialist, training in San Antonio, Texas and Greenville, Mississippi. The worst part of this training was the dreaded air travel to and from the training site. “I like to take care of the planes when they’re on the ground,” he said.

Also in 1962, he began working for the Menno Public School as a bus driver, retiring Spring 1974. “I’ve driven for twelve years. It’s time to graduate.”

He married Judith “Judy” (Nusz) Headley in 1967 and they had two children: Jennifer and Jay. They made their home in Menno the 57 ½ years they were married.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing, gun collecting, baseball, softball, and was an antique car buff.

He was a charter member of the Menno Community Club, member of the national Bi-Centennial and State Centennial Committees, was a member of the Menno Fire Department for 35 years, charter member of Menno Pioneer Heritage Association; member of the Lake Menno Development Corporation, Menno Area Development Corporation and Menno Athletic Club. His major role at these meetings was to report to the public the news of their plans and programs, and in great detail. He was a member of the Salem Reformed Mixed Choir and Men’s Choir and a member of the 1979 Men’s Centennial Chorus.

In 1978, he and his wife, Judy, purchased The Hutchinson Herald from his father. They were able to have a community open house in 1982 to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the newspaper and another celebration in 2000, marking 100 years of Herald ownership by the Headley Family.

The electronic age got the better of this newspaper veteran who worked setting type by hand, then on the linotype, then on a photo typesetter and lastly on a computer. In April 2002, Headley retired and sold The Hutchinson Herald to Tim and Mary Waltner (the owners of The Freeman Courier).

Retirement years were spent coffeeing, car washing and porch sitting.

Those celebrating the life he lived are his wife, Judy; daughter Jen (Marc) Hanson, Maplewood, MN; son Jay (Rachelle) Headley and grandchildren Evan James, Aliana Faith and Austin William Headley, Sioux Falls, SD; sisters Nadine Gunderson of San Laguna Niguel, CA; and Eileen Headley Kasper of Menno; brothers- and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Nona Lee, nephew Daniel Lee, great nephew Davis Lee, and parents-in-law, Ruben and LuElla Nusz.