Dean Williams
Dean I. Williams, 70, of rural Marion, died March 11, 2005, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Born Nov. 24, 1934, on the family farm southwest of Marion, he was the son of Irvin and Elsie (Hett) Williams Winkley.
He graduated from Marion High School in 1953, then joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1955 to 1957 in Alaska.
On July 19, 1959, he married Wanda Thode at Sterling.
From 1961-62 he owned and operated a service station in Marion. In 1962 he returned to the family farm. In addition to farming, he worked for Kansas Department of Transportation and as a motor grader operator for Marion County for 12 years. He retired from the county in 1996, but continued to farm.
He was an active member of Aulne United Methodist Church.
In 1975 he formed the boys' choir at Aulne United Methodist Church. The group grew larger and became known as the New Life Singers, traveling and presenting programs. In 1979, he was asked to form a choir for the church and he served as choir director until 2001.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Charles Winkley.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda; daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Jerry Stika of Goessel; two sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Sheila Williams and Jeff and Tami Williams, all of Marion; a brother, Jack Williams of Marion; two sisters, Donna Fruechting of Salina and Jeanette Clark of Louisburg; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at Aulne United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill Dyer officiating.
The Aulne Choir performed his favorite selections and Anita Brookens was organist.
Casket bearers were Doug Williams, Monty Frazier, John Clark, Dwight Fruechting, Miles Hartman, and Troy Thode.
Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren, Travis, Tristan, Becca, and Courtney Williams, Christopher and Chelsea Stika, and Alycia, Ethan, and Taylor Pontious.
Burial was in Marion Cemetery.
A memorial fund was established with the church.
