William V. Mizer

William Vincent Mizer was born on November 1, 1923 to Albert Frederick Mizer and Mary Edith Wallace-Mizer at the Carizzo Ranch. He started his education in a one room school house near his home. William graduated high school at Pritchett in 1940 and attended college in Goodwell, OK. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the Army to protect this great country. He served in the Army Signal Corp Division in Italy. After the war was over, Bill returned to the family farm and ranch. Bill married Alice Arlene Palmer in May of 1949 at the Palmer home. They purchased farm and ranch land on Butte Creek north of Kim where they made their home. In 1950 Adin Frederick Mizer was born, Vincent David Mizer was born in 1951 and Billee Jean Mizer arrived in 1953. At this time, the REA was putting in electrical services in the area. Bill’s experience in the Army Signal Corp allowed Bill the knowledge to help the neighbor men to install the phone lines and equipment for the Kim Mutual Telephone Association. Bill enjoyed building dams, trails and terraces on his Caterpillar dozer, Betsy, and carryall.
Music brought great enjoyment to Bill. He played various instruments including the harmonica, fiddle, guitar and his favorite, the mandolin. He played with Chub, Sterling and Ewell Hunnicutt as well as Harold Simons in a band.
Bill’s lifelong enjoyment was farming and ranching with his wife Arlene, and their children and grandchildren by his side. When you worked with Bill, you knew to bring your flashlight because you stayed with it until the job was done. It was very important to Bill to take care of his equipment, and Bill could often be found with a grease gun doing maintenance. Recently, Bill would grease everything he could reach and leave the grease gun in the seat for someone else to finish up. Bill loved horses and watching the kids and grandkids show and compete with horses as well as working cattle on the ranch.
Bill also had a Harley Davidson dealership for several years in the 1960’s. In his later years he enjoyed riding the four wheeler for the mail.
Bill was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Springfield in addition to serving on Farm Credit Board of Directors and Springfield Coop.
William Mizer passed away on November 27, 2017 in La Junta, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, four sisters, his son Adin and one son- in- law, Jim Sumpter. Survivors include: wife Arlene of 68 years, son Vin (Bev) of Fowler, and daughter Billee Sumpter of Branson, and seven grandkids, 21 great-grandkids and 1 great-great granddaughter.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel. Interment will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, at Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, Colorado. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.
The family would like to thank Dr. Lee Schmucker, and Aaron Schmucker, F.N.P and the crew at Loma Vista for years of wonderful care and friendship.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of William V. Mizer may be made to local fire departments. Donations may be sent to: Kim VFD, C/O John Cranson, PO Box 93, Kim, CO 81049.
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.