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Markham -- William"Bill" Dean Markham was born in Osage, IA to Glenn and Shirley Markham on Monday, December 18, 1939. He schooled and farmed until he joined the US Air Force at age 18 where he was a communications specialist for 8 years. During his enlistment he met and married his wife of 40 years, Elaine"Dolly", whom he will watch over until they are together again. Sons, Chris and Craig, were born while Bill was in the Air Force. Following an honorable discharge from the USAF, Bill worked for ROHR industries in Riverside, CA as a Metallurgical Inspector. Daughter, Keri, was born in the California sun. He joined the US State Department in 1976 as a Foreign Service Career Communications Specialist and took his family on the adventure of a lifetime. The family was posted to Nairobi, Kenya; Brussels, Belgium; Cairo, Egypt and the Washington D.C. metro area. Bill retired from the State Department with 22 years of Federal Government service. After retirement, he took a position with JAYCOR in Albuquerque, NM in 1990. Nobody outside his job knew what the hell he did-but he sure loved it and the people he worked with. Bill loved boating and fishing with the kids...or not; cruises and dancing, anytime, anywhere with Dolly; playing Poker with great friends from work; trips to Iowa and Minnesota to visit with family; big bazungas; good laughs, good fun and good company. He enjoyed playing Hearts with work buddies during the noon hour until the IT people took it off all the computers. Not to be outdone, they played the old-fashioned way with decks of cards. Most of all he loved teasing Dolly just to hear her special laugh, and the words she could butcher with her Massachusetts accent. He is survived by his wife, Dolly; son Christopher and wife, Heidi and twin grandsons, Scott and Taylor; son, Craig, and wife, Lisa, and grandchildren, Cody and Mikhaila; daughter, Keri, and husband, Tony Minter and grandchildren, Rashaun and Tiana Re; mother, Shirley Duenow Markham of Osage, IA; four sisters and four brothers, Janice Dempsey and husband, John, of Osage, IA, Joan Blake of St. Ansgar, IA; Barbara Markham of Osage, IA, Patricia Karau and husband, Roger, Ronald Markham and wife, Kristine, of Parker Prairie, MN, Richard Markham and wife, Marjorie, of Osage, IA, Robert Markham and wife, Kate, of Lakeside, CA and Keith Markham, and wife, Jessica, of Gig Harbor, WA; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn, who was laid to rest in the arms of our Lord on January 3, 2002. Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 14, 2002, 9:00 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 11401 Indian School Rd. NE. A rosary will be recited Thursday, June 13, 2002, 7:00 p.m. at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE. Friends may visit at French Mortuary - Lomas Blvd. Chapel Wednesday, June 12, 2002 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Lovelace Hospice, 5403 Gibson SE, Siesta Hills I, 87108.
        Published on: Thu June 13, 2002