William "Bill" E. Braden

William E. Braden, 88, of Eudora, KS, passed away at home on November 8, 2018. He was born on April 6, 1930, at the family home on Essex Street in Rosedale, the son of Rassie E. and Joyce Irene (Boak) Braden. Following his service in the U.S. Navy he married Winnie Ferguson on August 8, 1950. They enjoyed 68 wonderful years together and were blessed with six daughters. When the family was young, many weekends were spent at a modest cabin on a river just outside of Ottawa, Kansas, where even the youngest Braden girl learned to fish. Ultimately, dad would put in what must have felt like tens of thousands of hours coaching and managing his daughters’ various softball and basketball games and practices over the years. He even built a baseball field complete with backstop and team benches in the back of our large yard. Additionally, Dad volunteered as a leader for both Boy Scouts and Webelo Troops. Bill was a hard-working man who did whatever it took to support his large family, including taking on extra jobs in the construction trade. He retired in 1991 as Production Manager from the R. L. Sweet Lumber Company after 39 years of service. He also felt it was (in his words) “important to give back more than I have taken in this life and to help my fellow man.” To that end, dad formed the Argentine Action Group to provide street lights, sewers, and win a Supreme Court case giving property owners in Kansas a right to be heard and have some control in their communities. He was a member of the Joint Council on Recreation in Kansas, the Neighborhood Watch, First Aid instructor at the Red Cross, Democratic Committeeman in his district, a founder of the original Johnson County Girls Athletic Association at Midland and Renner, helping to build the concession stand there and so much more, a proud member of the Argentine High School Booster Club and Mayor of LaCygne, Kansas where he was instrumental in bringing in both a pharmacy and a physician to a town that had none. Survivors include spouse Winnie, sister-in-laws Clarice Braden and Marion Braden, six children, Kathy Sutton (John), Mary Miller (Ron), Billie Whisler (Jim), Pamela Gerster (Rob), Amy Kinney (Kurt), Beth Dixon (Chris), fourteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved brothers Jack and Jim Braden. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 13th, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Maple Hill Funeral Home, 3300 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, KS. Funeral Service will begin at 2:30 p.m. Burial will follow at the Maple Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Aseracare Hospice, 411 N. Iowa St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

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William "Bill" E. Braden

April 6, 1930 - November 8, 2018