Cordelia and William Onweiler papers

William "Bill" Onweiler was born in Boise, Idaho, in 1923, and grew up in the small town-site of Ustick, Idaho. From 1940-1945 Bill served in the United States National Guard. In 1952 Bill married Cordelia “Corki” Shellworth and eventually became a devoted father to six children and three foster children. Bill supported his family as a real estate appraiser and insurance agent but was equally active in serving his community. In the late 1960s, Bill served four years on Boise City Council where he championed preserving open space within city limits. Bill played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Boise Greenbelt in the 1960s, earning him the nickname “Greenbelt Billy.” Bill worked tirelessly on the Greenbelt project, going so far as to produce a promotional film titled “Boise River Today” in the autumn of 1970 that showed aerial footage of the Boise River. Bill also served in the Idaho House of Representatives where he advocated for land-use measures and taxing legislation for municipalities. Onweiler retired in 1999 and eventually moved with his wife to Rancho Mirage, California. He died in 2010.

Cordelia “Corki” Shellworth was born in 1931 and grew up in Boise. She attended St. Teresa’s Academy and worked at C.C. Anderson’s Department store located in downtown Boise. In 1952 Corki married Bill Onweiler and supported him throughout the 1960s in his political endeavors. Committed to literacy, historic preservation, and the Boise Greenbelt, Corki served on various administrative boards in Boise and was elected to Boise City Council in 1976. She did not, however, serve her entire term, as she and her husband relocated to McCall, Idaho in 1978. Corki later moved to Rancho Mirage, California with her husband. She currently resides in Orange, California.