Willis J. Truhlicka

Willis J. Truhlicka, 88, of Marysville, KS and formely of Barnes, KS, died Friday, June 19, 2009 at the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, NE. A funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 23 at the Barnes Christian Church. Pastor Jake Bollhoefner officiated. Betty Guin played the organ while Gloria Moore sang “Supper Time” and “Cleanse Me”. The pallbearers were Steve Moser, Brett Parker, Jim Kotapish, Larry Goodman, Danny Lundberg and Charles Hagedorn. The honorary pallbearers were Dane Parker, Don Prell, Markus Frese, Chris Bruna, Don Kotapish and Bill Lundberg. Burial was in the Maplewood Cemetery. Military honors were provided by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Willis was born February 6, 1921, the son of William and Emma (Hlous) Truhlicka. He attended high school in Texas and Kansas, graduating at Barnes, KS and then attended Central Business College in Kansas City, MO. Willis served three years and three months in the army, two years and nine months in North Africa and Italy. He worked in the headquarters office of the 32nd Station Hospital with pay roll and the personnel records. Upon his discharge from the service he worked for a large motor equipment company and the U.S. Postal Service in Kansas City. He also farmed and in 1967 was sworn in as postmaster at Barnes. Upon his retirement he and his wife moved to Harlingen, TX. In later years they bought a summer home in Marysville, KS. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, Shrine, Oddfellow Lodge, Lions Club, NAPUS, American Legion and the DAV. He also served as Chairman of the Board in the Barnes Christian Church. Willis liked to travel, he liked to work and be on his farms, he was a believer being a steward of the land, soil conservation. He married Shirley Tegethoff in 1951. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Larry Truhlicka and wife JoAnn of Winter Haven, FL, and Terry Truhlicka and wife Susan of Ellensburg, WA; five grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and one brother, Dr. Robert E. Truhlicka and wife Kaye of Montgomery, TX. He was preceeded in death by his parents. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated at a later date. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary, Marysville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willis J. Truhlicka, please visit our flower store.