Billy Beamgard

Billy Pack Beamgard was born on December 2, 1933, in Atwood, KS, to C.W. and Gladys Innes Beamgard. Billy Pack passed away after a tragic accident on November 23, 2021. He was very proud to live in and be an active member of the Atwood community most of his life, only leaving for a few years for the military, college and his first few years of teaching.

After high school graduation, Bill went to college at KSU, where he obtained his pilot’s license. Being a pilot was a favorite hobby of Bills. Next, Bill and good friend Frankie Chvatal joined the U.S. Army together in September of 1954, serving in Korea. After coming home from the Army, he returned to his education at FHSU. Following his graduation from FHSU, Bill taught math in Valley and Elkhorn, NE for 7 years before moving back to Atwood, KS to continue his teaching career. Bill started teaching math courses at Atwood High School in 1967 and later started the computer science program, building it from the ground up. He took classes in Computer Science over the summers from KSU. Bill continued teaching and helping students to learn until his retirement in 1997. Bill had many fond memories of his students and always enjoyed visiting with them. He did take one year off from teaching to pursue his other passion, cars. He worked as a mechanic, as he did most summers, at the family Dodge dealership. He was a lifelong “Dodge Boy.”

Bill was an active member of many organizations, community groups, and school programs. As part of Lions Club International, he was the District Governor 17K from 1975-76 and chaired the KS Lions Sight Foundation. He was also a member of the American Legion, VFW, Masons, Shriners Club, ODD Fellows, Atwood Flying Club, Silver Haired Legislature, Atwood School Board, Kansas Teachers Association, NEA, Methodist Church, was an Eagle Scout Advisor (Bill was also an Eagle Scout), Atwood City Mayor (founding Mayor of the Early Rod Run), and Atwood City Council member. Bill loved the Atwood community and loved being involved and giving his time.

While finishing his education at FHSU, Bill met the love of his life, Jeanine D. Gagnon, a registered nurse. They were married on December 26, 1960. They had three children, William John “Bill”, JoLinda Lee Oberly, and James Patrick “Jim” and four grandchildren, Austin Earle Oberly, Andrew Austin Oberly, Jesse Pack Beamgard, and Savannah Belle Beamgard.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his 3 older siblings, Donald, Rodney and Patricia Beamgard Makings; sisters-in-law, June Argabright Beamgard and Teresa Dozababa Beamgard and grandson Austin Earle Oberly.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, November 26, 2021, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 27, 2021, at the Atwood United Methodist Church with burial in Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, Kansas Lions Sight Foundation or Atwood Second Century and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com