William "Bill" Edgar Sweeney

William Edgar (Bill) Sweeney, 92 of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Monday, June 3, 2013. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 8, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd Street, Overland Park, Ks. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, following the Mass. Visitation will precede services from 9-10 A.M. at the Church. Rosary will be prayed at 9:45. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas State University Alumni Association and VFW Post 846.

Bill was born July 24th, 1920, last call for margaritas, Monday, June 3rd, 2013. Bill was married in 1952 to Rose Ann for 40 years before her death in 1992. Bill was employed by the Kansas Highway Commission, worked for the Shawnee County Engineers, Service Van Doren and Hazard engineers, HNTB engineers of Kansas City and retired from Burns McDonnell engineers in the quality review dept. in 1986. Bill was a member of the Eagles, a life member of the Elks Lodge, Life member of the American Legion, Life member in DAV, VFW, also a member of the Kansas State Alumni Assoc, OH how he loved his Fighting Wildcats! Educated in Topeka public schools,1938 grad of Topeka High, and of Kansas State University. Bill lived most of his childhood on farms in Shawnee County, KS. When WWII broke out, Bill and several of his buddies enlisted with the U.S. Navy in Jan. 1942. He went to boot camp at the San Diego Naval Base and on to pilot school in Madison, WI. After completing school the squadron left for San Francisco and waited to be sent overseas, in the Pacific theatre. Bill was assigned to VPB-13 squadron, a patrol bomber group. His squadron was stationed in Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. Bill flew patrol missions around the Hawaiian Islands and alternated flying every other day. His squadron bombed Wake Island, flying from Midway Island several times. The squadron planes would go over islands, bombing at various elevations. They didn’t lose a single plane during those bombings! While on Kwasalein Island, Bill lived in a tent and patrolled and bombed the islands of Canton, Funafut, Tarawa, Makin, Nanomea, Apama and Eniwetok. It was on the island of Tarawa, during a bombing of the Japanese, that he received a shrapnel injury to his left knee. A member of the Greatest Generation, he did what he had to do, as millions of other boys had to do. Bill was one of the lucky servicemen who made it back home safely after 3 years, 10 mos, and 25 days. After the war, it took Bill and others time to get back to living normally and getting on with their lives. Bill also loved gambling in Las Vegas with his buddies after the war, via Route 66. Bill had many fond memories of the Stardust Resort and Casino.

Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rose Ann, his brother Walter V. Sweeney, mother Lucy Unrine Sweeney and his father William Edward Sweeney. Bill is survived by his daughter Michelle Moceri, granddaughter Amanda Molina Lynch, grandson Trey Molina, son William Eric Sweeney his wife Deborah Sweeney, grandson Reilly Sweeney, and daughter Jacalyn Sweeney. Please offer condolences at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.