Willis G. "Bill" Gans, Sr., a long-time area farmer and stockman, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Ottawa County Health Center, Minneapolis.
He was born July 11, 1919 at Salina to Willis and Anna Nelson Gans. He served in the United States Army in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.
On May 18, 1946 he was united in marriage to Kathryn Hickman at Salina. All their married life was spent farming in Ottawa County. He wife preceded him in death September 15, 2002.
Survivors include a son Willis "Billy" Gans, Jr. and wife Joyce of New Cambria; a daughter Cynthia Gans of Lincoln; a son-in-law Dennis Greene of Salina; a sister Nell Lill of Salina and six grandchildren: Chuck Kipp and wife Julie, Tiffany and husband Jeromy Benien, Tennille Greene, Travis Greene, Jason Gans and wife Jamie and Jacob Gans and wife Amy and eight great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a daughter Ann Greene, a brother Bernard Gans and a sister Berniece Gans.
The funeral will be Wednesday September 16 at 10:30 A.M. at Wilson Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis with burial in Greenville Cemetery, Niles. Visitation will be 2 P.M. to 8 P.M. Tuesday, September 15, with the family present from 6 P.M. to 8 P. M. Memorials are to the Alzheimers Foundation, in care of the funeral home.