Wilbert Joseph “Billy” Sanko, 37, passed away April 20, 2024, at the University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, Great Bend, Kan. He was born Aug. 13, 1986, at Great Bend, to Michael and Claudia (Salbashian) Sanko.

Billy, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, had been employed as a machinist at GBI. He was a member of Prince of Peace at St. Rose Catholic Church and enjoyed off roading, cruising the river, hunting, fishing, camping, and hobby mechanic work. Billy was full of character, the life of the party, and could always turn life’s lemons into lemonade.

Survivors include his parents; one brother, Christopher Sanko and wife Merry, and their children Immalee and Kasper, all of Great Bend; and three half brothers, Lucas Sanko and Danny Sanko, both of Oklahoma, and Frank Costelli of Florida; and significant other, Andrea Wallis of Great Bend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2024, at St. Rose Of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Prakash Kola Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Lakin Comanche Cemetery, Ellinwood, Kan. Visitation will be noon to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home, with a Vigil with Rosary at 7 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Wilbert Sanko Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS  67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed atwww.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 27, 2024