Billy Jack "Bill" Wise

Billy Jack “Bill” Wise, 82, passed away May 25, 2018 at Rice County Hospital. Bill was born March 6, 1936 in Hutchinson, KS to LeRoy A. and Claudia J. Bennett Wise. Bill attended Hutchinson schools, graduating in 1955. He then attended a trade school for carburetor repair and worked as a mechanic at several dealerships and shops. He earned the distinction of Master Mechanic in the 60’s being 1 of 5 in the United States. Bill married Shirley J. Fritzler, June 19, 1960 in Pratt, KS. In September they moved to Limon, CO. To this union four daughters were born. They also lived in Castle Rock, CO and Hugo, CO where Bill worked for the school district as a bus mechanic and route driver. The family moved back to Kansas in 1975 where Bill worked as a mechanic for a John Deere dealership until he fell off a combine injuring his hip. He and Shirley then moved to Sterling, KS in 1990. He opened and ran a small engine and lawnmower repair shop- Wise Sales and Service until he retired in 1999. Bill was an avid motorcyclist and storyteller. He never met a stranger and was willing to talk to everyone. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert “Bob” Wise; sisters, Barbara Mackey and Nancy Wise; and grandson, Robert “Robby” Woods. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters, Dorinda K. Ellis (Kevin), Nancy J. Woods (Troy), Diana L. Seeger and Penny J. Stull; seven grandchildren, Billy Ellis (Keely), Alesha Schoshke (Hayden), Michael Woods, Schandelle Wolfe (Zakk), Dustin Thomas (Heather), Ira Stull and Ashley Stull; 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Bill was a member of the Sterling Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson-Reno Lodge #124, Queen Esther Chapter #32, Order of Eastern Star, Christian Motorcyclist Association (CMA), and Chrome For Christ #1230 in Kingman, KS. Services will be held at the Sterling Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. with interment in Memorial Park Cemetery in Hutchinson with Masonic rites. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling. Memorials may be given to American Heart Association, CMA Run for the Son in memory of Billy Wise, Kansas OES Grand Chapter Scholarship Fund, or Presbyterian Church in Sterling in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

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