William "Bill" D. Lohnes

William D. “Bill” Lohnes, 98, passed away on August 5, 2026. Born March 6, 1928, in McCracken, Kansas. Bill lived a rich life of family, service, artistic creativity, and outdoor adventures.

A Navy veteran, Bill later worked at Boeing Aircraft and Missile Programs and Boeing Aerospace. His work with Boeing included the Apollo program’s launches and missions to the moon, as well as the upper-stage systems for NASA’s Space Shuttle launches.

Bill was an award-winning artist and prolific woodcarver, creating more than 5,000 carvings - many featuring wildlife in natural settings inspired by his deep love of nature. He was also the author of Ness City Chronicles, a collection of the humorous and charming stories he loved to share about growing up in a large family in Kansas during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.

Bill enjoyed fishing, backpacking, rock hunting, hiking, and quiet evenings watching classic Westerns. Friendly and personable, he was loved by everyone he met and delighted people with his humor, stories, smile and memories.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Ella Lohnes and his son, Don. He is survived by his children Steve, Loretta, and Joni; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.