William W. Sears

William W. Sears, of Leawood, KS, passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital on June 6, 2009, surrounded by family and friends. Visitation will be from 5:30-7:00 p.m., Monday, June 15, with a Celebration of Life at 7 p.m. at Mt. Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute, 4401 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64111. Bill was born at St. Luke's Hospital on August 5, 1947 to Charles N. and Helen C. Sears. He received a business degree from Baker University where he belonged to Kappa Sigma Fraternity. While working for the Kansas City Life Insurance Company, he earned an MBA at Rockhurst University through the Executive Fellows Program. Bill retired from Kansas City Life Insurance Company in 2003 as Vice President of Insurance Services. He was president of the Midwest Chapter of Insurance Accounting and Systems from 1988-1989, board member of the Kansas Guaranty Association, and of the Leawood South Country Club. He was given a second chance at life as a heart transplant recipient at St. Luke's Hospital in 2000, giving him the chance to continue his love of golf, spending time in Colorado and Arizona and being with family and friends. We especially want to thank the doctors, heart transplant coordinators, and the angels on HI-4 and CICU for the many years of wonderful care, love, and professionalism; also the loving and dedicated care given daily to Bill by Cassie, Courtney, and Terri. Bill is survived by Linda, his wife of 33 years; sister, Mary Helen Griesel (Roger) and nephew, Bryan, all of Mission Hills; sister Barbie Coyle of Oklahoma; sister- in-law, Mary Kelly of Pennsylvania; plus many nieces and nephews, great-niece and nephews, great-great nephews, cousins; and his canine companion, Bailey. (Arr. Mt. Moriah and Freeman, 816-942- 2004)