Billy Pack Beamgard was born on December 2, 1933, in Atwood, KS, to C.W.
and Gladys Innes Beamgard. Billy Pack passed away after a tragic
accident on November 23, 2021. He was very proud to live in and be an
active member of the Atwood community most of his life, only leaving for
a few years for the military, college and his first few years of
teaching.
After high school graduation, Bill went to college at KSU, where he
obtained his pilot’s license. Being a pilot was a favorite hobby of
Bills. Next, Bill and good friend Frankie Chvatal joined the U.S. Army
together in September of 1954, serving in Korea. After coming home from
the Army, he returned to his education at FHSU. Following his graduation
from FHSU, Bill taught math in Valley and Elkhorn, NE for 7 years
before moving back to Atwood, KS to continue his teaching career. Bill
started teaching math courses at Atwood High School in 1967 and later
started the computer science program, building it from the ground up. He
took classes in Computer Science over the summers from KSU. Bill
continued teaching and helping students to learn until his retirement in
1997. Bill had many fond memories of his students and always enjoyed
visiting with them. He did take one year off from teaching to pursue his
other passion, cars. He worked as a mechanic, as he did most summers,
at the family Dodge dealership. He was a lifelong “Dodge Boy.”
Bill was an active member of many organizations, community groups, and
school programs. As part of Lions Club International, he was the
District Governor 17K from 1975-76 and chaired the KS Lions Sight
Foundation. He was also a member of the American Legion, VFW, Masons,
Shriners Club, ODD Fellows, Atwood Flying Club, Silver Haired
Legislature, Atwood School Board, Kansas Teachers Association, NEA,
Methodist Church, was an Eagle Scout Advisor (Bill was also an Eagle
Scout), Atwood City Mayor (founding Mayor of the Early Rod Run), and
Atwood City Council member. Bill loved the Atwood community and loved
being involved and giving his time.
While finishing his education at FHSU, Bill met the love of his life,
Jeanine D. Gagnon, a registered nurse. They were married on December 26,
1960. They had three children, William John “Bill”, JoLinda Lee Oberly,
and James Patrick “Jim” and four grandchildren, Austin Earle Oberly,
Andrew Austin Oberly, Jesse Pack Beamgard, and Savannah Belle Beamgard.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his 3 older siblings, Donald,
Rodney and Patricia Beamgard Makings; sisters-in-law, June Argabright
Beamgard and Teresa Dozababa Beamgard and grandson Austin Earle Oberly.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, November 26, 2021, at Baalmann
Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 27,
2021, at the Atwood United Methodist Church with burial in Fairview
Cemetery, Atwood. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the
Shriners Children’s Hospital, Kansas Lions Sight Foundation or Atwood
Second Century and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391,
Colby, KS 67701. For information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com