Bill Ferguson, 70, of Oakland, California, died of a heart attack on March 9th. He was born in Albia, Iowa, in 1955 to Bill and Dorothy (Dies) Ferguson. Bill graduated from Albia Community High School and Indian Hills Community College (Engineering Graphics and Painting), and studied art at the University of Iowa and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. (Read more about Bill’s art on his website: https://billfergusonfineart.com/) Instructors Roberta Witt, Douglas Genschmer, and Richard Dutton were all important influences who helped Bill develop his artistic talent and grow into a serious painter. Not that Bill was a serious person—he was always ready with a big grin or a laugh, and had a special talent for getting the most fun out of life. Bill’s friends knew him as a passionate chef who loved cooking for friends and family. He was also a talented, soulful pianist and especially loved Elton John’s music; their long-time friendship was dear to Bill. Bill was married in 1977 to Laurie King in Albia; in 1978 the two moved to San Francisco, and in 1983 their son Austin was born. Bill worked in a wide variety of fields, from retail sales to accounting to architecture, and excelled in each of his jobs. He was especially talented in the emerging high-tech field, working in supervisory positions at AutoDesk, Hasbro, and Electronic Arts. Bill was married on March 1, 2019, to his Fijian prince, Jovilisi Rokosucu Kila. Jo remembers Bill as a generous man with a huge heart who loved nurturing his friends and family. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Dorothy, infant brother Wayne Robert, and brother Kevin Lee, all from Albia. He is survived by his former wife, Laurie, of Novato, California; his husband Jo of Oakland, California; sister Kendra (Ferguson) Crall and her family in Norwalk, Iowa; and by his beloved son, William Austin Ferguson, of San Francisco. A Celebration of Life will be held in Albia, IA and in the San Francisco, CA area at dates to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to a cause that is meaningful to you, in honor of Bill Ferguson. Your gesture of kindness and support would be a beautiful tribute to Bill’s memory.
