William Robert Barger

William Robert Barger (Bill), passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of Tuesday April 5th, 2022 in Surprise Arizona from natural causes. He was 80. Bill was born in Scottsbluff Nebraska on May 7th, 1941 to father Learner A. Barger and mother Ella M. Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his three older siblings, Melvin Barger, Alyce Powell and Richard Barger. The Barger family moved to the Treasure Valley when Bill was a young child. He was proud that he attended each of the area high schools in operation during his teen years; first Nampa High School, then Boise High, before becoming a member of the first graduating class of Borah High School in 1959. He worked at the family business, Barger Mattson Auto Salvage after school, which had its benefits. Bill’s first car was a custom-painted chartreuse and black lacquer ’56 Chevy Bel Air. After graduation, he joined the United States Navy, where he trained as a Hospital Corpsman to the Marines while stationed at the Marine Corps base at O’ahu, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was fortunate that his active duty status spanned the years between the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, and was never sent overseas. When he returned home to Boise, he attended Boise Junior College briefly where he met his first wife Connie Zoe Youngblood, whom he married in 1966. He successfully operated two businesses in the treasure valley, before taking an early retirement to his ranch in Wickenburg Arizona. Bill loved horseback riding, and worked a few seasons at the Rancho de los Caballeros dude ranch in Wickenburg. He also spent several seasons riding and clearing trails for the U.S. Forrest Service. He later relocated to Sun City West where he resided until his death. He was a longtime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Bill was a lifelong enthusiast of outdoor sports and leisure activities. He was a skilled fly-fisherman who tied his own flies, and loved to wade and float in the Henry’s Fork. For many years he was an avid hunter and trap-shooter. While he lived in Salt Lake City, he owned a 25 ft sailboat he regularly sailed on the Great Salt Lake with his wife and daughter Candis. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, water and downhill skiing, horseback riding, and golfing. Upon retirement he took up ballroom and square dancing, and remained very active in the local dance socials of the Sun City area. Bill had many friends in Idaho and Arizona, including his best friend and favorite dance partner, Jan Sherman who was by his side to the end. Bill is survived by Connie Youngblood Barger, his daughters Candis Zoe Harris, Nicole Ellene Wheeler, and their spouses Doug and Robert; as well as his grandchildren Jaqueline Beuter, Mattie Kay LaFever, Ella and Lydia Wheeler. He will be interred at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa Idaho. A memorial service will be held at a future date.