Celebration of life services will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 20 at Mini Wakan State Park in Spirit Lake.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

JB Williams was born November 15, 1937 in Chicago, IL to John B. and Frances (Krieger) Williams Sr.  He was baptized in 1941 and confirmed in 1950.  JB moved to Fairmont, MN in 1949 and to Spirit Lake, IA in 1954.  He graduated from Spirit Lake High School and Mankato State University.  JB served in the National Guard 1956-1959 and in the US Army 1960-1963 at Fort Campbell, KY.  He specialized in field artillery, and was a rocket crewman and paratrooper.  On May 10, 1968 he was united in marriage to Katherine Rosenberg at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA.  They had two children: Jon “Nute” Williams, born in Spirit Lake in 1965, and Natalie Williams (Hinn), born in Spirit Lake in 1971.  His business, JB’s Restoration, opened in 1968.  He specialized in carpentry, motor and auto mechanics, and auto restoration.  JB’s passion was vintage cars especially Volkswagens and Studebakers.  He won many awards in car shows with his hand made craftsmanship and detail to design.  JB also raced snowmobiles both oval track and drag.  As a member of the Midwest Power Boat Association he raced his modified hydroplane boat and won many awards.  Motorcycles were also one of his passions.  Many family and friends gathered often at his home.  JB was troop leader for Boy Scout Troop 168 and loved the great outdoors.  An avid fisherman as well, he gill-netted for the DNR for 30 years and spent any free time he had catfishing on the Minnesota River.  JB moved to Morton, MN in 2004.  As a community member he served on the Morton City Council.

JB is survived by his children Jon “Nute” Williams and wife Jacinta, and Natalie Hinn and husband Rob, both of Spirit Lake; grandchildren: Ayrton and Madison Williams, Callan, Sophie, and Gracie Hinn, all of Spirit Lake; siblings: Bruce Williams of Baja, Mexico and Donna Williams Behounek Petrokowitz of San Dimas, CA; and niece Michelle McCarron.  He is preceded in death by his parents John B. and Frances Williams Sr., step mother Hellen Williams, and niece Tonyia Behounek.