WILLIAM J. (BILL) MOLIS

Madison, WI - William J. (Bill) Molis died with family present on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the age of 92. Bill was born August 7th, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Lawrence and Louise (Werner) Molis both deceased. He is survived by his wife Lynn (Bauerbach) Moils, and (3) three children, William David Molis and wife Dao of Bettendorf, Iowa, Steven John Molis and wife Rebecca of Round Rock, Texas, Susan Molis Reiman and husband Dale of North Liberty, Iowa, his grandchildren, Christopher William Molis of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jennifer Ashley Molis of Tacoma, Washington, and Benjamin John Molis of Atlanta, Georgia. Bill was preceded in death by his brother Edward W. Molis.

Bill attended public schools graduating from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa as Vice President of his Senior Class in 1952. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical (Aero) Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1957 and received a Master’s Degree in Engineering in 1972.

After graduating Bill served in the US Air Force’s critically skilled program and later was employed as an engineer at Convair Division of General Dynamics Corporation. Bill returned to Davenport, Iowa and married Lynn Bauerbach in 1959 and was employed for the next 20 years in Davenport as a project engineer at the Bendix Aviation Corporation. At Bendix, Bill was involved in engineering design & testing of ultrasonic equipment for military space and aircraft systems. After completing Project Management duties on numerous military programs for the US Army night vision labs and similar support equipment for US Navy Polaris submarines, his field of technology changed.

After the Moon landing Bill’s career changed as his design experience focused on equipment and systems used in the Dairy/Pharmaceutical industries. Bill relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Lynn and three children and worked for 6 years at the Cherry Burrell Corporation and AMCA International. It was through AMCA International that a contract for a complete American Dairy and Ice Cream plant in Saudi Arabia became Bill’s project in 1978.

Other domestic and international projects were handled by Molis International, Bill’s consulting operation before he became Project Manager on successfully bringing the 10,000 lbs / hr Sirocurd continuous cheddar cheese system from APV Australia to a customer in America. The same type job was integrating the Ohmic food sterilization process developed by APV, United Kingdom to American customers and testing to process MRE’s (meals ready to eat) for the US military. Bill resided @ Oakwood East, Pioneer Prairie at the time of his death.

There will be a private family service. The Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the benevolent fund at Oakwood, Madison, WI. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.