Bill Joseph Soukup

Bill was born in Ellsworth, Kansas, to Joseph and Marie Soukup. He was raised in Ellsworth working on his family's farm and ranch. He always said he enjoyed working with the animals the most. Throughout his life he continued to show his great love of animals.
Bill enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II at the age of 16. He served his country proudly aboard the U.S.S. Salisbury Sound in the Pacific Rim. He was involved in the release of prisoners of war who were held in several Japanese war camps. He was proud of being a veteran, sporting Navy tattoos and being a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He showed us the bricks in the sidewalk in his name at the VFW more than once. He had stated that he'd wanted to live in the Veterans Home (someday,) which he did. He always wore a hat that said he was a WWII veteran.
After his time in the Navy, Bill returned to Ellsworth, Kansas, where he met and married Betty Volok, of Dorrance, Kansas. They had two daughters, Jolette (Jo) and Kristi. He then traveled the southern United States with Betty and Jo building power lines for Utility Equipment Company. The family then settled in Bethany, Oklahoma. After his time at Utility Equipment, Bill became a long-haul driver for TransCon Lines, from which he retired.
Bill loved fishing, welding sculptures, tinkering in his workshop and working on cars. His love of animals continued resulting in numerous spoiled pets. He also loved spending time with his sons-in-law, Bob and Drew, searching for shenanigans. Bill was always willing to help anyone he saw in need. His daughters were blessed with a soft-hearted daddy who never liked to see his daughters worry or sad. He always wanted the best for us and was an excellent provider for his family. He was proud of his work ethic.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Bob and Larry Soukup, and two sisters, Evelyn Hloucal and Pat Emfinger, of Ellsworth, Kansas. He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Bobby Joe Tucker, of Bethany, Oklahoma. He is survived by his daughters, Jo Tucker and Kristi Baker and sons-in-law, Bob Tucker and Drew Baker, of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Shane Tucker and wife, Ellen Tucker, of Delaware, Ohio, and Nicholas and Mitchell Baker, of Oklahoma City; and great grandchildren, Lincoln, Liv and Lane Tucker, of Delaware, Ohio.
Bill Soukup's service will be at 12:30 pm at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery at the pavilion.