Obituary of Bill Mains

Mains Bill

Bill Mains, 74, of Yankton, a devoted husband and father passed away Monday, August 5, 2024, at his home under hospice care with family at his side. Bill’s memorial service will be 10:30am, Monday August 12, 2024, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home with Rev. Kwen Sanderson officiating. Livestreaming of Bill’s service may be viewed at https://server.attend.live/static/event/rkYV6. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bill was born June 18, 1950, the fourth child of six children, to Raymond & Irene Mains in Marshalltown, IA. When Bill was 12 years old his dad died from a gas explosion.  To help his mom buy school supplies for his siblings, he shoveled snow and mowed lawns.   During junior high and high school, he loved playing base guitar in a band with his friends who performed at a number of gigs.  He loved the loud music! 

He attended Junior College and Graduate School in Marshalltown before enlisting in the Navy during the Vietnam War.  He was trained as a corpsman.  He was then stationed at the Navy Hospital in Philadelphia where he worked mainly in the psychiatric units.  He recalled many incidences of life changing experiences of Vietnam Vets.  He was honorably discharged from the Navy after 4 years of service.   

Bill graduated Maxima Cum Laude from the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  He worked at the VA hospital in Iowa City before he was employed at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in the medical ICU in the Critical Care Division. It was there he met and married the love of his life and soul mate, Mary Lynn (Schuurmans) Flockhart.   They resided in Iowa City, IA for a number of years and then moved to Yankton, SD.  While living in Yankton, he worked in the ICU at Sacred Heart Hospital, management at Scotland Hospital and then joined the nursing department at Mount Marty College where he was a clinical instructor for junior and senior nursing students.  He did this for 10 years before retiring.  Teaching was the highlight of his nursing career.

Bill thoroughly enjoyed music and playing his guitar.  His priorities for fun were fishing, boating, hunting and camping.  Being out on the water and fishing were really relaxing for him.  He was an avid woodworker for a number of years.  Turning wood was his passion, especially making beautiful bowls.  Many friends and family enjoyed these bowls. 

Bill was a loving and proud father and grandfather.  He was a very gentle man, who was always considerate and respectful with a positive attitude and a quick sense of humor.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn, his son, Nick Mains with granddaughters Mikayla and Maci, his daughter, Heather (Mark) Orf with grandchildren Nathan and Chloe.  His sisters Becky (Craig) Coughlin, Chris (Jim) Gardner, and Carol Border. His brother-in-law, Ron Weise along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother, sister, grandson and niece.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Yankton Heartland Humane Society: heartlandhumanesociety.net