William “Bill” A. Sanders, 78, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2019 at his home in Hoxie surrounded by family and friends. He was born June 3, 1941 in Ashland, KS to William Franklin and Susie Nellie (Stewart) Sanders.
Bill attended Commanche County schools in Coldwater, KS. He achieved his GED in 1985 from Colby Community College. Bill worked in road construction until moving to Hoxie, where he met the love of his life, Mary. He married Mary Kathern Bieker on July 1, 1961 at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie. Bill was a Produce Manager for many stores and was also a volunteer Fireman for many years. He enjoyed playing cards in his younger years. Bill had a love for lighthouses and collected them for years. His Aunt Gertrude painted him a lighthouse at the age of 80 and his granddaughter, Erica Kinderknecht, colored him a lighthouse picture, and he treasured each of them very much.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Susie Sanders; sisters, Wilma Webber and Janet Goldwater and great-grandson, Garret Richmeier. He is survived by his wife, Mary Kathern Sanders of the home; sons, Charles Sanders (Bernadette) of Wichita, KS and Daniel Sanders of Hoxie, KS; daughters, Debra Kinderknecht (Eric) of Hoxie, KS and Anna Richmeier (James) of Wakeeney, KS; 11 grandchildren: Jadrien Carson, James Richmeier (Kaitlyn, Raeschele Sanders, Justin Heikes (Emmy, Kayla Sanders (Shalina, Joey Richmeier, Austin Sanders, Brooke Sanders, Erica Kinderknecht, Marcus Sanders, and Nicole Sanders and 5 great grandchildren: Rosa Lee Heikes, Paxytn Heikes, Rhieleigh Sanders, Braelynne Sanders, and Charles Luke Sanders.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Hoxie, Kansas on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow in St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Cemetery, Hoxie. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., the family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., with the Vigil Service starting at 7:00 P.M at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William A. Sanders Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com