Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

Boat-racing champ 'Grandpa' Seebold passes away

By Lake Sun staff
Published: Sunday, February 4, 2007 9:31 PM CST

Bill Seebold Sr.
Bill Seebold Sr., 91, a boat racing national champion who launched a six-decade family racing dynasty with lake ties, died of natural causes at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 1.

Seebold was a native of Granite City, Ill., and resided there until 1973, when he relocated to his 195-acre farm in Iberia, Mo.

He is the grandfather of Osage Beach businessman and champion boat racer Tim Seebold.

Known to the boat racing community across the U.S. as 'Grandpa,' Seebold was a skilled machinist who built his own boats and engines and specialized in propeller modification.

'All I ever thought of was boats, boats, boats,' he once said. 'In 1938 I built my first boat in my basement and bought a one-cylinder engine for $15. Then I just rode up and down the Mississippi. I didn't go very fast, only about seven miles an hour downstream and a mile an hour up. But I loved it.'

After World War II, Seebold built a runabout capable of 58 mph and began competing in regional and national boat races. In 1955 and 1956, he won championships in the C Racing Runabout and C Racing Hydro classes of the National Outboard Association.

He retired from driving racing boats in 1960, but continued to serve as crew chief for his son, Bill Seebold Jr., and later grandsons Mike and Tim Seebold. All three have won national and world championships.

Seebold entered the marine business in 1949, operating first out of the family basement and later from Granite City Boat & Motor on Madison Avenue. He sold the business in 1973.

Seebold is survived by his wife of 68 years, Pauline Burnett Seebold; two children, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m., Tuesday at Irwin Chapel, 591 Glen Crossing Road, Glen Carbon, Ill. 62034. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church, 3 Bonnie Drive, Iberia, Mo. 65486; or Legacy Powerboat Ministry, P.O. Box 373, Evinston, Fla. 32633.

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Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

What a wonderful obit...sounds like he had a great life doing what he loved. May God grant him peace. RIP

Bill, my deepest condolences to you and the boys.

Charlie McCarthy

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

Condolences to Mike and his family.

Marc

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

he lived the life
thank you mr. seebold for everything you did for racing
mike ,bill and the whole seebold family, peace be with you
mike stancombe

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

:( :(

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

Bill, Mike,Tim and Family our thoughts are with you. He was a great guy who did much for all of us. Just six years ago he "fixed up" a prop for my tunnel boat, and I smoked the field with it. He will be missed.
Steve and Melissa Quick

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

Condolences to the Seebold family.:(

DARREN LUHRS

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

To the entire Seebold family our condolences go out to you he was a great man may he rest in peace.:(

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

I don't believe that I ever met Bill Sr. but if he is anything like Bill Jr., Mike or Tim Seebold, I am sure that he will missed greatly... RIP Bill Sr.

Re: Bill Seebold, Sr. Passes Away
 

Our condolences to the Seebold family.