William Engler

William (Bill) Joe Engler, 68, of Burlingame, Kansas, passed away Monday morning, April 21, 2025. In his final days he was surrounded by his four children. Jokes were told and nurses were hit on ;)
Bill was born the fourth of five children on September 17, 1956, to Roger & Jane Engler in Beaumont, CA. From that day forward, the world was blessed by his big personality and even bigger stories.
Desiring a life of travel and serving his country, Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps. In 1978 he married Leslie Winder in Kansas City. While living in Wisconsin, they had their eldest daughter Katie, followed by twins Karen and Kristin. Bill then decided to join the Army and not long after, the family moved to Alaska where Billy was born.
Bill loved all things outdoors. He was an avid hunter, fisher, camper, shit-stirrer, and joke-teller. While the military moved him around the country, he learned to enjoy each of these activities in every location he lived. Some of his greatest memories are of catching King Salmon, quiet times out on the water, or in the bush quietly waiting on a deer or caribou.
If the great outdoors had a guestbook, Bill's name would be signed in bold, underlined twice, with a doodle of a fish, a smiley face, and a campfire. He loved sharing that lifestyle with his kids-teaching them how to pitch tents, shoot straight, bait a hook, and above all, laugh through life's wild ride. He was the kind of dad who could fish for anything, grill everything, and tell a joke at exactly the wrong (or right) moment.
Serving his country and being in the military were vital memories of Bill's. He proudly held each promotion and accolade he earned, retiring as an Army Captain in 1997.
If there was something in this life that brought joy, Bill was open to it ;) He loved laughing and being a smart-ass.
Bill passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at Midland Care Hospice in Topeka, Kansas. His celebration of life will be held Friday, May 2nd at 10:00 AM at Yorgensen Funeral Home in Manhattan, KS, with a burial to follow at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at Fort Riley in Manhattan.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Jane and Roger Engler, his sister Bobbi Engler, and brother Steve Engler.
He is survived by: his sisters Terri Van Roekel of South Dakota and Toni Smith of South Carolina, also his children Katie Rhodes (married to Tim), Karen Lierz (children: Carson, Brielle, and Zachary), Kristin Bayes (married to Justin and children Taylor and Lane), and William (Billy) Engler, Jr, each of whom inherited a pinch (or more) of his humor, stubbornness, or enthusiasm for the outdoors.
He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and enough camping gear to outfit a small scout troop. We will miss his wisdom, his jokes, and his one-of-a-kind ability to make life just a little more fun. #stayfunny #wewilltakeitfromhere
The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, is assisting the family with service arrangements. ymlfuneralhome.com