William W Marshall Iii

William W. Marshall III Passes Away



William (Bill) W. Marshall III passed away peacefully at his home on January 30, 2016, after a courageous two year battle with cancer. He was 71 years old. Apfel Funeral Home is handling the familys arrangements. A visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, from 5:00pm-7:00pm. The funeral will be held Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 11:00am also at First Presbyterian Church.



Marshall is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sharon, (Sherry), his two daughters, and their husbands, Kara (Tom) Kelley and Kristen (Matthew) Maser, and six grandchildren, Katherine, Carolyn, Kate, Tommy, Will, and Jack. He is also survived by his niece, Stacy Hagglund Canada and her daughter, Amy Jane Risser, two sisters-in-law, Sandra Rosewell and Susan (Susie) Rosewell-Jackson and Susies children, Bills nieces, and nephews, Jeanne Naber, Jeff Jackson, and Jennifer Wittemyer. Bill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who cherished spending time with his family. Bill also truly enjoyed playing golf and watching all types of sporting events, especially those of his grandchildren.



Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William W. Marshall Jr. and Ferne (Cornish) Marshall. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Judith (Judy) Marshall Hagglund and her daughter, Ann Hagglund Clarke.



In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hastings College Foundation, the Grand Island Education Foundation, the 1868 Nebraska State Fair Foundation, and the Grand Island Central Catholic Foundation.



Bill was a 44 year resident of Grand Island. As a businessman and community steward, Bills life has been one defined by business success, charitable support, and a steadfast commitment to the betterment and advancement of his community.



Bill was born in Niobrara, Nebraska, on March 16, 1944, to Ferne (Cornish) Marshall and William W. Marshall Jr. He spent his early life in Niobrara, Nebraska until his family moved to Grand Island in 1959. At Grand Island Senior High, he excelled both academically and athletically. He participated in football, basketball, and track. He earned All-Class, All-State honors his junior year in basketball, and threw the shotput and discus for Grand Island Senior Highs 1962 State Champion Track and Field Team. After graduating from high school, Marshall pursued his higher education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 1966. In 1969, he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska-College of Law.



In 1971, Marshall returned to Grand Island at the persuasion of his father, to help start a local bank, Five Points Bank. In September of 1971, Five Points Bank opened its doors. Marshall was elected President of Five Points Bank in 1975 and Chairman of the bank in 1989. Under Bills direction and guidance, Five Points Banks commitment to taking care of its customers has helped the bank evolve from the smallest bank in Central Nebraska into the sixth largest Nebraska bank holding company with over $1.25 Billion in total assets. Not only has the bank grown in asset size, it has expanded its operations presence throughout the state with locations in Hastings, Kearney, Omaha, and Sumner.



Marshalls community-minded value system was ingrained in him by his fathers mantra, You have to pay rent for the space you take. In other words, in order for the bank to prosper, the community must also prosper, and the bank must take an active role in helping propel the community forward. Over the last 44 years, Marshall has lived out this ideology through his involvement and financial support of various projects and causes both locally and state-wide. He helped raise funds for the building of the Heartland Event Center, the building of College Park, and the movement of the Nebraska State Fair from Lincoln to Grand Island. Locally, he served as President of the Industrial Foundation, President of the College Park Board of Directors, and President of the Grand Island Community Foundation. In 2004, Marshall served as a United Way Annual Fund Drive Chairman. He also served on the Grand Island School Board and on the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. On a state-wide basis, Marshall served as President of the Nebraska Bankers Association and as a member of the Nebraska State Board of Education. Most recently, he served on the Hastings College Board of Trustees and as a member of the Nebraska State Fair Board. In 2013, Marshall was named the Grand Island Independents Man of the Year. Most recently, in 2015, Marshall was inducted into Grand Island Senior Highs Hall of Honor.

Through his business involvement, philanthropic contributions, and board service, Bill Marshall has proven that you dont have to flee far from your roots to have a positive impact and improve the quality of life in your community. Bill Marshall truly loved his family, his business, and the community he called home, Grand Island. He will be greatly missed.