William Michael Sullivan

Bill Sullivan passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family including his wife, children, grandchildren and sisters. Bill battled throat cancer and its numerous affects for the last twenty years.

Bill was born in Salina, Kansas and grew up in Rossville, Kansas. He participated in the Boy Scouts and the Rossville Rustlers 4-H Club. He graduated in the class of 1971 from Rossville High School. Bill also attended Emporia State University. He went on to complete his Masters in Business Management from Oklahoma City University in August of 1990.

Bill had a distinguished career in the Air Force starting in 1973. Bill was stationed in Germany in 1978 and in Sicily in 1984. He was deployed and served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War. He retired from the Air Force in 1993 as a Master Sergeant.

Bill then had a career working for the Federal Aviation Administration (Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City) working as a high-ranking technician on radars.

 After retirement Bill moved with his wife Kay to Rossville to live in the Sullivan home. With the help of his wife, he set about honoring his roots by starting to restore their family home.

Bill was an amazing father and grandfather. He was our baby whisperer. He loved to hold the babies and could console them even when no one else could. He was a lover of all thing’s technology. He was the family go to for tech problems. He was always there for everyone in the family. He made a point of attending all his children’s activities and life events. He was always there for his parents, George and Marie Sullivan. When they passed away, he stepped in as patriarch of the Sullivan family. Cheering on the KU Jayhawks was one of his passions and he proudly displayed the KU flag. Bill loved his young son Chase; his last gift to him was an outdoor play fort that he recently constructed.

Bill was a devoted member of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.

Bill is preceded in death by his loving parents, George and Marie Sullivan. He is survived by his devoted wife Kay and his children Jason Sullivan (Mona), George C. Sullivan, David Sullivan (Alicia), Stephanie DuBose, Katie Kincheloe (Matt) and Chase Sullivan. His ten grandchildren Hunter Sullivan, Gavin Sullivan, Abi Sullivan, Ryan Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Zayne Saddison, Gabriel DuBose, Oliver Kincheloe, Liam Kincheloe, and Riley Kincheloe, his siblings and their children Anna Marie Alvarez, Peg (Margret) Sullivan, Janice Craven (Kelly), Cody Alvarez, Caitlin Alvarez, Rob Heil, Chris Heil, Garret Heil, his brother in-law Norman Foster (Shirley)  and sister in-law Gail Kemp.

The family would like to thank the expert care and kindness from the professionals at Stormont Vail Hospital.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Newborns in Need at newbornsinneed.org in Bill’s memory.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 28th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Piper Funeral Home in St Marys, KS; the Rosary will be said from 7:00-7:30pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 29th at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville KS with burial following at the Rossville Cemetery. A luncheon will be served in the church hall after the burial.