HOISINGTON — Billy Joe “Bill” Mawhiney, 92, passed away June 5, 2021, at Country Place Senior Living, Hoisington. He was born Feb. 19, 1929, in Altamont, Kan., to Wesley and Christine (Poer) Mawhiney. Bill married his high school sweetheart Alberta Ann Aldridge on March 31, 1951, in Parsons, Kan. They had recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Bill has been a resident of Hoisington since 1971 when he and Alberta moved from Great Bend. His early days were spent in Altamont, Parsons, and Coffeyville, Kan. During the Korean War, he proudly served his country, as a Tech Sgt. in the Army Reserves. Bill spent the majority of his career in the insurance industry. He was employed as an insurance adjuster by General Adjustment Bureau which took their family to live in Norfolk and McCook, Neb., and then Great Bend in 1964. It was in 1971 when Bill and Alberta purchased the V.L. Durand Insurance Agency in Hoisington, which later transitioned to the Mawhiney Insurance Agency. He served area residents with their insurance needs until his retirement in 1992. Bill was an active member of the Hoisington First United Methodist Church and served as a Barton County Community College trustee for several years. He officiated Nebraska and Kansas high school football games for 48 years. In his younger years, Bill was an accomplished athlete, holding many records and reaching the pinnacle of being professionally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. Bill loved his family, friends and home. He loved his vegetable garden, especially his tomatoes and delighted in giving tractor rides to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan and loved to watch whatever game was on. He and Alberta traveled with their close friends to K-State games, with the college trustees and on their own taking several bus tours as well as visiting family. He had coffee with his cronies twice a day for many years and delivered meals to seniors as well. He was a friend to all and greeted everyone with a warm smile and twinkle in his eye.

Survivors include his wife of the home, Alberta Ann Mawhiney; two sons, Mark Mawhiney and wife Kim of Overland Park, Kan., and Brad Mawhiney and wife Cyndi of Gardner, Kan.; two daughters, Janet Koester and husband Duane of Hoisington, Kan., and Lisa Baum and husband Bob of Great Bend, Kan.; nine grandchildren, Brett Mawhiney and wife Kati, Blair Uriell and husband Brandon, Megan Bray and husband Jerron, Brian Koester and wife Brooke, Audrey Koester, Sarah Lober and husband Kyle, Allison Klingenberg and husband Grant, Amanda Malone and husband Jake, and Matt Mawhiney and wife Jaci; and 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in passing by one brother, Gerald Madison Mawhiney; and by two sisters, Sara Florine Woodward and Freda Jane Warbinton. 

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Hoisington with Rev. Chris Lehew and Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. The family will receive friends prior to the service. Inurnment will follow at the Hoisington Cemetery at 1 p.m., for those wishing to attend. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church or Kindred Hospice in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS  67544.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 

PO Box 146 

Hoisington, KS  67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 27, 2021