William Wiebold Obituary

Bill Wiebold, 75, of Columbia, MO passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Columbia, after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service was held Monday, June 23, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. Urn placement will take place at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery. Bill was born October 27, 1949 in Benton County, IA to Erwin and Louise Warner Wiebold. In 1967, he graduated from Vinton High School in Iowa. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State University where he met Wendy Lucken. They got married on June 9, 1973 in Le Mars, IA. In 1974 they moved to Athens, GA where he earned his PhD from the University of Georgia. In 1978, they moved to Maryland where he began his teaching career and did research at the University of Maryland College Park. From 1983-1990, he worked as a faculty member for The Ohio State University before they moved to Columbia. He wound up making plant science his life's work. As a professor of agronomy at the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, his research and outreach helped the state's farmers get the most out of their land. He partially retired in 2019. He loved to work on landscaping in his yard, calling it his "happy place." He and Wendy loved to travel and visit wineries, and he had most recently served as the Director of the Grape and Wine Institute. He was an avid fan of the Missouri Tigers and loved attending football and basketball games. He was a proud grandfather and a true family man. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wendy; sons, John (Amy) Wiebold of Lee's Summit; and Jeremy (Suzanne) Wiebold of Columbia; grandchildren, Brayden, Cayleigh, Madeline, and Jenna; sisters, Margaret (Avery) Merriman of Wayzata, MN, Joanne Moeller of Atkins, IA, and Kathryn (Harold) Sheesley of New Sharon, IA; many nieces and nephews and a loving extended family. He was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Wiebold, a brother-in-law, Larry Moeller, and his parents.