Willard Werner

Willard F. Werner, 91, of Atwood, KS died Friday, June 10, 2016 at the Rawlins County Health Center. He was born July 14, 1924 in La Crosse, KS to Robert E. Werner and Mary E. Fisher. Willard attended elementary and high school in Ingalls, KS. After one year at Garden City Junior College, he served in the Navy as a medical corpsman during WWII. He later received his Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University and a Medical Doctorate from Kansas University. During the following three years he completed an internship and Family Practice residency in Denver. He married Wilda Minnix in 1951 and set up his practice in Tribune, Kansas where they raised their three children. After 37 years in Tribune, Wilda and Willard moved to Atwood, KS where he worked as a physician for another 8 years. After medicine and family, his passion was caring for trees and working with the environment.



Willard was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Edward and Ronald; grandson, Preston Werner and granddaughter, Olivia Wall. He is survived by his wife, Wilda, of Atwood; son Steve (Jill) Werner, Bella Vista, AR; daughters Carma (Dan) Werner Wall, McPherson, KS; and Cari (David) Werner Goetsch; grandchildren Robert, Ryan and Regan Goetsch and Channing Wall; sister, Evelyn (Duane) Riley, of Garden City, KS and brothers, Wes (Joanne) Werner, of Garden City, KS and Ray (Colleen) Werner of Escondido, CA.



Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held Monday, June 20, at 11 am at the United Methodist Church in Atwood. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church-Atwood or the Rawlins County Health Center, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information and condolences, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com