Ernest Symonds

Ernest William “Bill” Symonds, 88, of Clear Lake, died Thursday, June 1, 2017, at his home.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 5, 2017, at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, in Mason City, Iowa.

  Bill was born Feb. 18, 1929, the youngest son of Ernest and Lina Walker Symonds, in Massena, Iowa.  He was united in marriage to Karen Irene Edwards on April 18, 1950, in Cumberland, Iowa, and to this union five children were born.

Bill grew up and attended school in Cumberland, while helping on the family farm.  He and Karen lived in Griswold and Cumberland while he farmed and worked in a cabinet shop.  In 1962, the family moved to Lenox where he owned and operated Tri-State Equipment and opened Semonzio’s Pizza, in Creston, Iowa.  In 1969, they moved to Kirksville, Mo. and he opened Kareeno’s Pizza, which he operated until 1971, when they moved to Clear Lake.  He started selling restaurant and bar equipment before opening his own business in 1973, called Lake Equipment, Inc.  While in Clear Lake, he also owned and operated Mama’s Pizza before retiring in 2010.

Bill enjoyed his woodworking, shop, dancing and playing his guitar by ear in his younger years.  His current interests included following the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins baseball, World War II history and playing craps at the casino.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and family, and always looked forward to the family reunion each year.  He was also known to be seen with a tape measure on his belt, and a pen in his shirt, as he was always drawing restaurant and bar plans on napkins.  He repaired a lot of bar and restaurant equipment in North Iowa with his trusty pocket knife.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen Symonds, of Clear Lake; five children, Diana Symonds, of Clear Lake, Gerald (Jill) Symonds, of Rockwell, Iowa, JoAnn Copas, of Forest City, Iowa, Brian (Tammy) Symonds, of Clear Lake, and Sharon Friest, of Clear Lake; 15 grandchildren, Andrew (Dara) Wick, Elizabeth (Dave) Haag, Quinn Symonds, William (Rachel) Symonds, Tony Symonds, Heather Copas, Adrian Copas, Samantha Copas, Matthew Symonds, Travis Symonds, Amanda (Allen) Wacek, Kenneth (Michelle) Friest, Jacob  Friest, Mina Symonds and Tiffany Symonds; several great-grandchildren; a sister, Lois Carlisle, of Griswold; a brother-in-law, Gary (Gayle) Edwards, of Ames, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Russell (Lucille) Symonds, Robert (Lavonne) Symonds, Dale (Wilma) Symonds, Francis (Arlene) Symonds, Olive “Belle” (Fred) Holste, Carl (Bernice) Symonds, and an infant brother; a sister-in-law, Mary Edwards; and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Carlisle.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.