William “Bill” Dean Slavin, Jr.
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Funeral services for William “Bill” Dean Slavin, Jr., 56, Guntersville, AL will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2019 at Family Church of Lawrence, 906 N. 1464 Road Lawrence, KS. Burial with military honors will be held at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service at Oak Hill Cemetery. He died Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
He was born on September 9, 1962 in St. Joseph, Missouri the son of William Dean and Kennetta Jo (Hobbs) Slavin.
Bill was a SSGT in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years. He was the Owner/President of Firelake Construction, Inc. He was a member of the Potawatomi Nation. Bill attended Connect Church in Guntersville, AL.
He is survived by his wife, Mary C. Stritikus Slavin whom he married on March 26, 1999 in the Bahamas. Other survivors include his mother, Kennetta Slavin, Eudora; his children, Aaron (Sunny) Slavin, Washington, Emilie Slavin, Alabama, Julie Slavin, Tonganoxie, Katherine (Tanner) Burkhart, Wichita; siblings, Jenny (Floyd) Hiatt, Lawrence, Cynthia (Jerry) Reasoner, Eudora, Diana (James) Theis, Paola, Tim (Lisa) Slavin, Baldwin City, Jackie (Greg) Foley, Lecompton; 14 nieces and nephews; nine grandchildren, Ethan Slavin, Michael Slavin, Trentan Slavin, Allison Stephens, Kendal Spence, Jackson White, Joseph White, Jaela White and Addison Burkhart. He was preceded in death by his father, William Dean Slavin in January 1992.
The family will greet friends Sunday, April, 7, 2019 from 2-4 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to:
https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/
https://www.alabamawildlife.org/
or may be sent in care in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Diana, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this grievous time. Billy was always smiling and cutting up in high school. I also remember him sweating it out in that parachute fabric track suit doing stair laps in the gym before a wrestling meet trying to make weight. He will not be forgotten. He shared his faith unashamedly after finding Jesus at Youth for Christ. Love and hugs to you friend.
Diana,
I am so saddened by this news. Billy was always so full of life and I am sending you hugs for your entire family. I will keep you in my prayers. May Billy fly high with the angels and protect the rest of us.
My condolences. My heart goes out to you in your time of sorrow.
God Bless
So very sorry to hear this news. I have many great memories of Billy and Jackie when we were younger. I will be in prayer for everyone. He will truly be missed. Sending much love to you all from the bottom of my heart. .
Kennetta, I am very sorry to read that Billy has passed, I will always remember the many good times you shared with me over the many years we worked together.
May the lord be with you and your family at this time.
Marge Waller
Our deepest condolences to the Slavin family. Wishing you
peace to bring you comfort, the courage to face the days ahead
and loving memories to forever hold in your heart.
We pray that God will comfort you and your family at this time. Bill was an Awesome guy and I had the pleasure of meeting He and His amazing wife Mary by way of work, (ICIDS), Ft. Campbell, KY. He was Always Very professional and smiling!! He will be missed. Our thoughts and Prayers goes out to Mary and the Family!
Rev. Dr. Bennie L. Robinson, Clarksville, Tennessee
I was so sorry to hear that Bill has left us. Bill was a wonderful person and a good friend. I was miss him.
To Mary and Family,
So sorry for your lost. Bill was a God sent Brother to me. I just saw him 2 weeks ago. Mary, you and Bill will always be part of my family. May God bless you and give you comfort during this difficult time.
Mary, family and the Firelake Team.:
Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with you all during this trying time. Bill was one of the best people I have had the opportunity to meet, work with and learn from when he was here at Ft Campbell. He will be deeply missed.
Mary Buddy and I are absolutely floored we love you two so much been friends for years I just pray God will put his arms around you and the family and comfort you and help you through this if we can do anything for you let us know just know you are in our thoughts and prayers I don’t know a greater man than Bill he will be missed so much I just can’t believe this we love you
My deepest condolences. I really thought a lot of Bill. He was a great person and I really enjoyed working with and for him. You all are in my family’s prayers.
Mary,
I am so sorry for your loss!! You are in my prayers!! I love you dearly and pray for you daily!!! Please know we will be prayering for comfort in the days and months to come!! Know that Kristi and I are here for you if you need us!!
Mary and family,
I hate this so bad and hurt with you. I loved Bill. He was so good to me and I’ll never forget him taking me under his wing while working with him. Bill was a special soul that you just wanted to be around. He was a man’s man and had an infectious laugh..My admiration for him is boundless. I’ll never forget him. I will continue to pray that you will find God’s peace.
Love always, Ashley
I worked with Billy at Lehigh Ks. Color press in Lawrence Ks. in 1981 I think it was. I remember him as a fun guy who was always smiling. Glad to see Billy went on to have a great lifeeling with great family. RIP Billy Slavin
I worked with Billy at Lehigh Ks. Color press in Lawrence Ks. in 1981 I think it was. I remember him as a fun guy who was always smiling. Glad to see Billy went on to have a great life with great family. RIP Billy Slavin
We are so shocked and saddened. We love you and all your family and will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Mary, I am so very sorry to hear this news about Bill. I never had the privilege of meeting him but knew from all the pictures I’ve seen posted what a special marriage you two shared. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very, very sorry for your loss; my heart breaks for you. May wonderful memories you shared together help you in the days ahead.
Mary,
We are so sad & truly sorry to hear about Bill. We will always remember the fun we had, watching the FSU vs Auburn game. We are grateful for the both of your friendship & you will always be welcome up in AK. God bless & prayers to you & the family. Go rest high on that mountain…
Mary, My deepest condolences go to you and your family. Meeting and getting to work with you and Bill was a great pleasure. He left entirely to early. We will keep your family in our prayers.
Mary,
Rhonda and I’s deepest sympathy. I know how much you two meant to one another. Finding your true life partner is a often times rare and cherished experience. Bill was an awesome guy and he will be missed. You’re a strong lady and you’ll make it through this.
Mary and Slavin/Stritikus families,
So sad about this. May God hold you all in his arms during this tragic time. Know that you have so many friends and close loved ones that you can lean on at anytime that you need. So happy to have known you two so long, and even happier that I joined your team and was able to spend some time with the both of you. We will keep the flame burning.
Dearest Mary,
Such sad news. Bill was such a great man and it was always a pleasure to be around you both and see and feel the love that you shared for each other. I feel blessed that I was with you both in Sydney just 4 weeks ago, sharing part of your Australian/New Zealand adventure with you. Bill will be sorely missed and forever remembered. Take good care always. Love from the Cronin’s
My Friend Kenny & Family,
I know how very close your family is and this is so very sad to lose Billy.
I am thinking of you all and praying for strength in the days ahead.
( Big hug) Patti & Roger Brown
I
I’m so sorry to hear about Bill. From the very beginning of my career, Bill had always stood up for me and given me a shot. Not once over all these years did he ever turn down any of my questions and was always patient with me, willing to help and very supportive. Always supportive. I greatly appreciate that. I owe a great deal to Bill for my success at work and wouldn’t be where I am today without his support, and that’s no small thing. He was a legend and a really good guy. I’ll miss him.
To all his friends and family, I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Stay strong.
Mary,
Carol and I were so very sorry to hear about Bill. We all sort of met together at Fort Bliss over 20 years ago. Still remember to bowing and poker games. All who worked with you and Bill will remember his wit, smile, and his laugh. Once again we are sorry and will miss him.
Your family will be in my prayers. Billy was a classmate of mine. Even though I haven’t seen him in years, i have very fond memories of him from high school. He will be greatly missed by so many people. His smile will always be in my heart.
Mary,
I was so saddened to hear about Bill’s passing. Bill was so down-to-earth and a pleasure to work with. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bill was such an amazing friend. I’m so sadden by this. I will always be grateful I knew him. Mary, we love you so much. Praying for all.
Billy was 8 or 9 years old the last time I saw him, just a child, so I can’t say I know him as a man. However, Kenny, I know you and based on that and what I’m reading the love that you poured into your children has saturated each one of them. Billie will always be with you, he has stepped from a physical body to a spiritual one, he has completed his race and is now In the presence of the Lord. Be assured that Billie has never been better. I’m reminded that many many years ago there was a lady named Mary that also faced the death of her child and look what happened. Billie’s life will inspire others to seek his God, no doubt. Love to the Slavin family.
Your leadership and friendship have touched the lives of many. You are missed.
Mary Cathrine, we are so very sorry for your loss. We never got to meet Bill, but because you chose him, he must have been a very special person. We pray that God will keep you in His perfect peace as He heals your broken heart!! Pam and “Donnie man”!
Please accept my deepest condolences for your family’s loss. I will always remember Bill for his vibrant smile, laid-back demeanor, and sense of humor. And I will be forever grateful for how he embraced and accepted me into the Firelake family, long before we met in person. While Bill will be deeply missed, he undoubtedly left a lasting impression on me, and many others, that will carry on for years to come. On behalf of Scott, Jorie, Allie, Matthew, & Kyle, we extend our love and blessings to the Foley and Slavin families during this difficult time.
I am so sorry to hear this! My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Diana, sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Dave and Roxanne Biller
Mary, Family and FireLake family. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I am so very luck to have had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Bill. I haven’t known him long at all, but he took the time to help and mentor myself and Scott Adkins in a new Industry to us. He was kind and as busy as he was he still took the time to call and assist us with our questions as little as they may have been. My heart breaks for you all and I will be forever grateful that I had the privilege of meeting such a kind man. Mary I felt an immediate friendship with you and Bill. God Bless you both. You will both forever be in my thoughts and my prayers. Sharon Robinet
Mary,
Bill was such a kind and energetic person. He was always so positive and outgoing. He made everyone he spoke to fell like his “Buddy”. I can see from all the posts that he clearly made a positive impression on lots of people. I’m sorry for your loss, he will be missed. I will think of Bill every time I see an Auburn football game on the TV. War Eagle Bill!
~Ben
I was so sorry to hear about Billy’s passing. He was a classmate of mine. I haven’t seen him in years but i have very fond memories of him. He was everyone’s friend and always had so much energy. I will never forget his smile. Praying for all the family during this difficult time.
Mary,
My heart is broken. I weep with you. You both are my true friends. I call it a pleasure to have known Bill and you. We will see him again. Bill was always the same in life and in work. He was a good man and friend. He will be sorely missed. May God comfort you in this time of grief. Your friend Rick Gibbs
I knew Bill from being stationed together at Whiteman AFB in the mid-late 80s. We worked closely as we were on two and four man teams together as Security Police. I often reflect back on those times- and recently while telling my wife some “war stories”, that I once knew a great guy that had a great influence on developing the man I am today. As I described him to her, I said- gee- “I need to look him up on social media and re-connect after so many years- you know- to just chat about how many laughs we shared, and so many patrols together”. I am saddened to find this obituary, as I am sure many others that knew him back then would be as well. Bill and I took a weekend trip to Lawrence Kansas from Whiteman after one of our mid-shifts, to meet his parents. It was a long drive- but he knew how to keep everyone entertained with his dry humor and raspy laugh- so the drive was fun- I can still hear his laugh today. Although we parted ways and I never saw him again- those 4 years with him are with me for a lifetime- My condolences to those that were close to him- -just know that he was loved on several different levels- mine was a long-time ago friend- and he will be missed. I have an old picture of him and me together- that I am going to dig up now. I am on FB, so if you send me a msg, I will return it with a pic that I can hopefully find now. RIP Bill- Dana
Just to give a scope of how Bill affected me, here I am looking him up after not seeing him in years, just to find out he has moved on to a better place. Bill gave me a chance getting back into the IT industry many years ago and it shaped my life choices for the better every step after. The Chiefs nation will miss one of their truest fans and being called ‘Bub’, well I still hear it in my head. Condolences to Mary and everybody whom Bill was apart of. -Sunshine