William Kersenbrock

Send Flowers William "Bill" A. Kersenbrock October 30, 1936 - November 21, 2015 William (Bill) Kersenbrock 79 was born on October 30, 1936 to Arnold Clinton Kersenbrock and Edith Louise (Boeka) Kersenbrock. Bill passed away Saturday morning, November 21, 2015 at Citizens Medical Center. Bill attended Colby High School and graduated in 1954 with some of the best classmates who still meet once a month for lunch. Bill spent most of his spare time in high school farming with his parents and working on the family-owned dairy. He was actively involved in the Colby High School plays (1953 & 1954), member and president of the Wise Owl 4-H Club (1943-1950), member of FFA (1950-1954) and a member of the high school judging team. In 1957 he met his wife Lou (Miller) Kersenbrock. They were married on April 3, 1960, at the First Christian Church in Colby, KS. To this union, two children were born. Bradley Scott was born January 30, 1961 and Lesley Dawn was born August 28, 1963. Bill provided well for his family. On March 25, 1955, Bill enlisted in the Kansas National Guard where he served his country from 1955-1992 and was a lifetime member. After 37 years, he retired as a Command Sergeant Major. Later in his military career, Bill and Lou made several trips to Topeka so he could attend the CSM meetings and trainings. He had such love and respect for his country and would proudly wear his veteran’s hat and stand at attention and salute whenever the National Anthem was sung at a sporting event. Bill was a committed employee and worked several jobs throughout his life. He delivered laundry for Careful Cleaners for 5 years (1957-1962), was a lineman for Great Plains Electric for 27 years (1962-1987), and worked as a lineman and shop supervisor for Midwest Energy for 9 years (1987-1996) where he retired at the age of 58. Bill was always up for a challenge and set his sights on auditioning and getting a few parts in the Colby Community College plays. You would also find Bill at the Colby Country Club playing golf with his golfing buddies and being involved with the Colby Country Club golf board. Bill took pride in officiating football, basketball & baseball and, in the summers, enjoyed following his kids around to area swim meets where you would see him being the starter, a lane judge or a timer. After his officiating days, Bill loved to watch his own children participate in sports and activities. Once his grandchildren began competing in sports then he became a bus driver so he could follow and take care of them wherever they needed to go. He loved driving bus #00 for Colby Middle School and Colby High School and you would hear him and Charles Barnett talking to each other about the road conditions as they were traveling--the student’s safety was always their main concern. Getting to watch the student’s events and meeting other bus drivers were just a couple of the perks of the job. He was so proud when the students called him “Uncle Bill” and thanked him for keeping them safe and for taking them on their trips. Bill also drove the bus for Colby Community College and traveled across the country to get the athletes where they needed to go. He made some great memories on those trips. Due to having to get a pacemaker, he could not longer do this one thing that he loved most but that did not keep him for attending games & matches. He had “the best seat in the house” where he would sit on the front row, and question the official’s calls and yell at appropriate and sometimes inappropriate times. When not watching sporting events, Bill like to watch his westerns and travel with long-time friends Jim and Judie Withers. On Saturdays he would go have lunch at Twisters with the Shooters group and some evenings you would find him at the bowling alley giving his opinion on how to pick up that ten pin. Bill was a true Kersenbrock who didn’t know a stranger and would strike up a conversation with whomever he came in contact with. There was never a lull in a conversation when Bill was around because he had an endless supply of jokes and stories.  Bill was preceded in death by his wife Lou (Miller) Kersenbrock, his parents and two brothers Ray Kersenbrock and Bob Kersenbrock. He is survived by his son Brad of Colby; daughter and son-in-law Lesley and Jeff Wagoner of Colby; three grandchildren Brittany Kersenbrock of Overland Park, Tasha Wagoner of Colby and Brock Wagoner of Colby. He is also survived by one brother Glen (Mary) Kersenbrock of Colby and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at the Colby United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held 2:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel. Memorials in care of Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel 745 S. Country Club Dr., Colby, KS 67701. condolences: kersenbrockfuneralchapel.com