William Riley “Bill” Nowlan 92, of Sterling, passed away April 4, 2020 at the Sterling Village. He was born December 14, 1927 in Crawford, Nebraska, the son of Carl and Hazel Whiteis Nowlan. Bill has resided in Sterling since 2014, formerly of Chadron, Nebraska and El Dorado Springs, Missouri. He graduated from Chadron High School in 1945. Bill was a farmer/rancher; construction superintendent having worked in Kansas and Nebraska; and was a building inspector for Miller-Dronberger-Arbuckle-Walker and McLain in Hutchinson. He served in the United States Navy from July 18, 1945 to August 1, 1946, attaining the rank of Machinist’s Mate, Third Class. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Sterling. On April 20, 1947, Bill was united in marriage with Janine A. Childers in Chadron, Nebraska. She preceded him in death on October 31, 1981. On July 2, 1982, Bill was united in marriage with Ava Fiedler in Hutchinson, Kansas. She preceded him in death on May 7, 2014. He is also preceded in death by his parents; an unnamed infant sibling; two brothers, Clifford and Gerald Nowlan; two sisters, Dorothy Roberts and Shirley Ahrens; and grandson, Brian Bell. Bill is survived by two sons, Michael Nowlan and wife Mary of Hutchinson, Kansas and Kevin Nowlan and wife Deanne of Sterling, Kansas; four daughters, Patricia Chantler of Hutchinson, KS, Kathy Cannon and husband Chris of Hutchinson, KS, Jeanne Shannon and husband Bruce of Austin, TX, and Joni DeVries and husband Dave of Ogallala, NE; stepson, Chris Fiedler and wife Joanne Jones of Eudora, KS; stepdaughter, Anita Fiedler and husband Tyress Allen of Dallas, TX; brother, Gary Nowlan of Boulder, CO; sister, Dee Duff and husband Dan of Lincoln, NE; eighteen grandchildren; forty-one great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A private family burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to Kindred Hospice, American Cancer Society or Sterling Village in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.
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