McDOW, William Eugene "Bill" - b. September 25, 1938 - d. May 13, 2024

[patyrn]

William Eugene "Bill" McDow, Sr., age 85, of Longton, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 2024 at Moline North Lake near Moline, Kansas.  He was born September 25, 1938 in Eureka, Kansas to Harlan and Ollie (Pearson) McDow.

Bill was raised on the family farm near Tonovay, Kansas alongside his nine older siblings, graduating from high school in 1958.  After high school, he joined the United States Army and served his country in between the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  Bill met the love of his life, Dianne Dixon, at one of the bars he owned in Wichita, Kansas, and on February 22, 1980, they were united in marriage.  They spent the next 39 plus years together until her passing in 2019, raising their children and watching their grandchildren grow.

Bill was a contractor and could do all kinds of concrete flat work.  When he wasn't busy at a construction site, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and family get-togethers.  He liked working on cars, boats, and lawnmowers that he would buy, fix up, and then sell.  He was also known to enjoy a good Kansas City Royals ballgame and a cold beer on a cold day when he couldn't be outside tinkering with a project.

Bill's favorite hobby was being a Grandpa.  His family was very important to him, and he was important to his family.  He will be missed by those that called him Dad, Grandpa, or friend. 

Bill is survived by his children, William (Jennifer) McDow, Jr of Moline, Kansas, Valerie McDow and fiance, Heath Beckwith of Elk City, Kansas, and Bridget McDow of Wichita, Kansas; stepchildren, Shannon Robertson (Tim Brown) of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Larry Robertson of Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Kayla McDow of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Matthew McDow of Independence, Kansas, Nolan McDow of Moline, Kansas, and Bradley Clarenson of Elk City, Kansas.  He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Howard Victor McDow, Harlan Lloyd McDow, Margie Rebecca Brinkman,  Elizabeth Annetta Winn, Ollie Leota Pearson, Betty Irene Loffland, Mary Jane Maloney-Sowers, Gerald Leroy McDow, and Thomas Warren McD0w.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Christian Community Church, 100 N. Kansas, Longton, Kansas.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specifically for Whitehall Bay at Fall River Lake and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)