William Joseph “Bill” Fritschen, age 89 of Hays, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.He was surrounded by his family at Via Christi Village in Hays.
Bill was born on October 19, 1936, on the family farm near Logan, Kansas, to Joseph and Norma (Paulsen) Fritschen.
After graduating high school in Logan, Bill attended Benedictine College for a semester. He then transferred to Fort Hays State University, where he worked his way through college. He always said he took the scenic route to his degree as it took him eight years to finish. He had a beautiful voice, and that led to a degree in music. He had the opportunity to star as the lead in the FHSU Broadway production of Brigadoon and was a member of the FHSU Singers. He earned his bachelor of music education from FHSU in 1962. A few years later, he earned his master’s degree from Emporia State University.
Bill started his career in education before he earned his degree, landing his first job as a principal, coach and junior high teacher for a tiny school in Glade, Kansas when he was just 20 years old. He would say the best job he ever had was teaching vocal music in Seneca, Kansas because that is where he met another young teacher, Judy Hahn, who became the love of his life. They were married on June 15, 1963 in Seneca. Over the years, Bill was a choir director, assistant principal, elementary, junior high and high school principal, coach, athletic director and transportation director, working in schools in Glade, Logan, Seneca, Hoisington, Kinsley, and Ellis.
He retired after serving as the principal of Washington Grade School and Junior High in Ellis from 1977 to 1995. Retirement for Bill didn’t mean sitting on a porch rocking chair. Instead, he taught himself tech, developed his own school administrative software, and sold it to schools in the surrounding Hays area. He and Judy also spent years volunteering for the AARP Tax Aide program, with Bill rising to the rank of state coordinator. They made a tradition of going to the Big 12 basketball tournament every year and enjoyed several cruises.
They spent 15 wonderful years in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, watching their grandchildren, Reese and Brooke, grow up, attending their concerts and sporting events and frequently enjoying a home-cooked meal while laughing around the dinner table at their daughter and son-in-law’s home in Littleton, CO.
The final chapter of his journey brought Bill and Judy right back home to Hays, Kansas, living at Via Christi. There, Bill got to enjoy the absolute best perks of a life well-lived: his daughter and son-in-law’s home cooking (again) and the pure delight of welcoming a great-grandchild into the family. Bill was blessed with an exceptional singing voice. He sang in and led choirs all his life, as both a profession and because he loved it. He sang in the choir at St. Mary Catholic Church in Ellis, Windcrest Senior Living Community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Via Christi Senior Living in Hays.
Bill leaves behind a legacy of music, leadership, a touch of chaotic school history, and an abundance of love. Bill was always quick to tell you that the absolute best parts of his life were his dear wife Judy and his beloved daughter Diane.
Bill is survived by his wife, Judy, Hays, KS; his daughter, Diane (Fritschen) Leiker and husband, Don, Hays, KS; his grandson, Reese Leiker and wife, Emma (Stark), Littleton, CO; his granddaughter, Brooke (Leiker) Becker, and husband, Joshua, Hays, KS; his great granddaughter, Anneliese Becker; his sister Mary, Noel-Owens, St. Joseph, MO; his brother, Mike Fritschen, El Dorado, KS; his brother-in-law, Neil Hahn and wife, Linda, Dallas, TX; his sister-in-law, Sherry Hahn, Potomac, MD, his beloved nieces and nephews and their children.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Norma Fritschen; his brothers-in-law, Francis Noel; Loland Owens; and Jerry Hahn; and his sister-in-law, Paula Fritschen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Saint Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th Street, Hays with Celebrant, Father Damian Richards.
Burial will follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 240th Ave. and Mount Pleasant Road, Hays, KS.
A Vigil Service and Rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. led by Deacon, Steve Urban at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, at Saint Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church,
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorials payable to: Fort Hays State University Comeau Catholic Campus Center in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Condolences can be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left at the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.