Bill Kauzlarich

Military Honors for Bill Kauzlarich, 81, of West Des Moines, will be held Thursday,
August 29, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home, 203 W. Center St,
Melcher-Dallas, IA. The Military honors will be followed by a short service and the family
will greet friends until 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the
Dallcher American Legion Post 632 of which Bill was a 50-year member.

William M. Kauzlarich was born in Knoxville, Iowa on October 22, 1942, to Tony and
Sue Mikita Kauzlarich. He was raised in Melcher alongside his two sisters: Suzanne and
Patricia. He attended Melcher schools with the class of 1960 and enlisted in the Army
when he was 17 years old. After serving three years he returned to Iowa and was a
truck driver for several years.

It can't be ignored that Bill loved the ladies, he was always chivalrous and kind, but he
lucked out when helping Karen Caylor in the boat while hanging out with friends one
summer day. Bill and Karen were married on April 8, 1967, they were blessed with a
daughter, Deb. Bill began working for John Deere in Ankeny as a welder, retiring in
2003 (He was one of the best). They eventually made their home in West Des Moines
where they have lived for the last 40 plus years. The neighborhood has been filled with
good friends and memories. Bill could fix or build anything; he would fiddle in his garage
and work on projects for hours while listening to the radio and having a nice cold beer.
He enjoyed the quiet time of sitting in the garage in his chair and watching the sunsets
and would always welcome a visitor with a beer and some great conversation.

You could guess that Karen and Bill enjoyed a vacation or two. They loved to travel and
did so regularly, traveling all over the world they saw many sights and thoroughly
enjoyed the time together. And it makes you smile to think of people all over the world
who had the chance to visit with Bill Kauzlarich. Bill had fun everywhere he went, the
family spent a great amount of time at Lake Panorama boating and camping, he
enjoyed pulling people behind the boat. He was also close to Karen's cousin, Butch
Caylor, they had many adventures together, including years ago when the pair was
practicing their "quick draw" skills and he shot himself in the leg.
His grandchildren will remember all these adventures, especially the time spent with
him, singing a crazy song, and the many laughs shared.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Karen Kauzlarich; daughter, Deb (Brian Sparks)
Narin; grandchildren: Brandon (Taylor) Kolo, Jessica (Jacob) Koch, and Mikaylee Narin;
great grandchildren: Lilah, Lincoln, Addison, and Parker; sister, Suzanne Krpan;
brother-in-law, Jim Ripperger; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Bill passed away on August 25, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony
and Sue Kauzlarich; and sister, Pat Ripperger.