William “Bill” D. Gensler
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Memorial services for William “Bill” D. Gensler, 85, Baldwin City, KS, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Vinland Cemetery, Vinland, KS. William passed away Sunday, January 5, 2020 at his home.
Bill was born June 4, 1934 in McLouth, KS, the son of Eldon and Freda (Schwinn) Gensler.
He was a member of the Lawrence Masonic Lodge #6 and the Scottish Rite, Abdallah Shriners, where he was a part of the Shriners Motor Patrol out of Merriam, KS, a member of the Elks Club and was on the Vinland Fair Board. He loved to talk about trucks and John Deere mowers.
He was a milk hauler for 47 years.
He married Mary Cates on May 12, 2000 at their home in Baldwin City, KS. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include his children, Scott (Jana) Montgomery, Matt (Tina) Montgomery, Nancy Helm, Candy (Mel) Thompson, Joe Gensler, and Nancy Montgomery; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; stepsister, Beverly Elkinton; and stepbrothers, Rex Rogers and Richard Rogers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Dorothy, children, Rusty Gensler, Jeannine Athey and Melissa Arnett.
The family will greet friends on Tuesday, January 14th prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Visiting Nurses, Shriners Hospital for Children, or Vinland Cemetery Association and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
So sorry to hear of his passing. Bill taught me a couple of valuable lessons when I was young and I always respected his value of hard work. I never forgot them.
Mary & Family,
So sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. We looked forward to seeing him every week in the summer. He always kept Scott on his toes with the mowing directions. Such a delightful character. God bless and keep you, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Condolences to all of you. He was such a nice man with a great sense of humor. RIP Bill.
Edward Kesinger
Billy was a nice man. When I was on the farm as a teenager Billy hauled our milk in a truck named Midnight Flyer as I member. He would pull milk cans full out of the cooler with one hand and throw them on the truck. He was a strong man. I will never forget him. Condolence to all. RIP.
Mary, and all of the family, this made me very sad. What a “Caricature”. Known him a long time. Used to visit on the C.B. when we passed on the back roads, with his milk, and my propane. Rode the school bus with Matt, and Jody. Used to love listening to him and my wife’s dad swap trucking stories. They are probably at it again. Mary, if you need anything just give me a call. Thoughts and prayers to you all. There will be a little bit of the Kitty Womper in all of our memories, and souls. xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxo
I remember Bill from my days as a weekend milk receiver at AllStar Dairy back in the early 1980’s. That was a wilder time of my life and I would often stay out too late on Friday and Saturday nights requiring me to take a nap on the Hershey’s Chocolate mix bags on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the dairy. Bill would very kindly let himself in, park his Peterbilt, and get on the intercom to summon me from the warehouse… “RICKY VAN WINKLE, RICKY VAN WINKLE, COME UNLOAD MY TRUCK!”. Bill was always kind and fun and I looked forward to seeing him every weekend for a number of years. I was long-haired and flying by the seat of my pants, but he never judged me. He was and will always be my friend and I am so thankful to have known that fine man.
Hugs to you all, RIP Bill.
Bill was always so fun and kind. I looked forward to seeing him and all of the banter that would follow. My condolences.
Mary and Family,
May God bless you with His Grace during these coming days. May He replace the sorrow with great memories of Bill. He was one of a kind.
When you thought of a milk hauler there was only one that came to mind, an immaculate maroon Peterbilt equipped with stainless steel tank, and a larger than life man with a waxed moustache behind wheel with the name “Bill” on the door.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May God Bless Each of You.
Dear Mary; I remember where Bill, you and I were on May 12, 2000. My thoughts are with you in your loss.
I grew up on a dairy farm near Pleasant Grove. Bill hauled our milk for years, rain or shine in all kinds of weather. I remember one year the snow was so deep, only the top of that “maroon Peterbilt” was visible as he went down our road. He and his truck were always “neat as a pin”!
His daughter Jeannine was born the same day, at the same hospital I was. I am sorry she is not with us anymore. I wish I could talk to her and share some memories of Bill with her.
I liked Bill. He was a good man. I am sorry for your loss. May God comfort each of you with His peace.