Bill Beamgard's Obituary

    The following is what the family wrote about Bill.  The funeral home folks abbreviated this a  bit.   

  Billy Pack Beamgard was born on December 2, 1933 in Atwood Kansas to C.W. and Gladys Innes Beamgard.  Billy Pack passed away after a tragic accident on November 23, 2021. He was very proud to live in and be an active member of the  Atwood community most of his life, only leaving for a few years for the military, college and first few years of teaching.  

 

After high school graduation, Bill went to college at KSU, where he obtained his pilot’s license.  Being a pilot was a favorite hobby of Bill’s. Next in September 1954, together with good friend Frankie Chvatal, he joined the U.S. Army, they were stationed in Korea. After coming home from the Army, he returned to his education at FHSU. Graduating from FHSU, Bill taught math in Valley and Elkhorn NE for 7 years before moving back to Atwood, KS to continue his teaching career in math for a total of 30 years.   Bill started teaching math courses at Atwood High School in 1967 and later started the computer science program, building from the ground up. He received his units in Computer Science from KSU during summers. He continued teaching and helping students to learn until his retirement in 1997.  Bill did take one year off from teaching to pursue his other passion, cars.  He worked as a mechanic, as he did many summers, in the family Dodge dealership.  He was a life-long “Dodge Boy”.  

 

While finishing his education at FHSU, Bill met, Jeanine D. Gagnon RN, in early 1960.  They were married on December 26, 1960.  They have three Children, William John (Bill), JoLinda Lee Oberly, and James Patrick (Jim).  They have 4 grandchildren, Austin Earle Oberly, Andrew Austin Oberly, Jesse Pack Beamgard, and Savannah Belle Beamgard.  He is survived by his wife, Jeanine, Children; Bill (Belinda), JoLinda Oberly (Larry), and Jim, grandchildren; Andrew Oberly, Jesse Beamgard, and Savannah Beamgard, 9 nieces and 11 nephews, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. 

 

Billy is the fourth child of C.W. and Gladys Innes Beamgard.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Donald and Rodney and sister Patricia Beamgard Makings, sisters-in-law June Argabright Beamgard and Teresa Dozababa Beamgard, and grandson Austin Earle Oberly.

 

Bill was an active member of many organizations, community groups, and school programs.  He was in Lions Club International, District Governor 17K 1975-76, chaired the KS Lions Sight Foundation (a supporter of K.U. Medical Center Ophthalmology Center). Through this he arranged for many children and some adults to be treated by specialist without charge.  Mostly because of the involvement with Lions International, he and wife Jean traveled to most of the states, including Hawaii and Alaska.  They also had the opportunity to travel to (some with Lions Club) Canada, Nova Scotia, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, England, Scotland, Wales, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean Islands, Tortola, Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and 11 counties bordering the Baltic Sea, Germany, Japan, and possibly more. 

 

One especially exciting trip was to the British Virgin Island, Tortola, with Bill's brother-in-law Jim Gagnon and bride Robyn Ray for their wedding.  They prepared for the trip by taking sailing lessons on a lake in Colorado. The foursome set out in October 1998 after renting a 40 foot sail boat in Tortola and heading for a sailing trip around the British Virgin Islands. This was a wild ride, the boat was rocking and rolling and Bill was having the time of his life sailing with Jim and Robin. They rode through a wild storm celebrating Jim and Robin’s nuptials. As the 3 sailors had a great time riding the massive waves, wife Jean was “sicker-than-a-dog” below deck for the entire storm. It was not until they returned to shore a few days later that they learned they had just rode out Hurricane Mitch! Bill thought this was great.

 

He was also involved in the American Legion, VFW, Masons,  Shriners, ODD Fellows, Atwood Flying Club, Silver Haired Legislature, Atwood School Board, KS Teachers Association, NEA, Methodist Church, Eagle Scout Adviser (Bill was an Eagle Scout himself), Atwood  City Mayor (founding Mayor of the Early Rod Run), and Atwood City Council member.  

 

Since Bill was willing to try anything, his kids got to do a lot of activities like go-carts, motorcycles, mini bikes, learned how to change tires and change their oil early in life.  JoLinda and Jim even learned to take a Dodge Colt engine apart and put it back together, even if there were a few parts left over.  He loved teaching his children to drive any type of vehicle and build many things, buildings included! Bill's other love was vehicles, anything with Dodge, especially their military and sports cars.  He worked at C.W. Beamgard Co. whenever possible.

 

Bill loved life, his heart was soft for stray kids and animals.  He wanted to help anyone whether they needed it or not.  He loved the school kids and remained friends with many through life.  It was a highlight for him to have past students stop by, even when his memory was fading.  He always loved to visit with his students.  Bill loved his community and loved being involved and giving his time. Bill wasn't perfect, but he was one of the good guys.