William Dean ‘Bill’ Breshears

Funeral services for William Dean ‘Bill’ Breshears, 65, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Breshears died Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2014, at St. Francis Health Center in Topeka.

He was born Jan. 30, 1949, in Lawrence, the son of Harold and Helen Hastert Breshears. He graduated from Lawrence High School, and later served with the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Bill was employed as a die cut operator at Hallmark Cards in Lawrence for 33 years. He was a member of Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 of the American Legion, where he was involved with the baseball team, and a lifetime member of the Alford-Clarke Post 852 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He coached baseball for 34 years. Bill was also an avid bowler, and longtime member of the Lawrence Men’s Bowling Association.

He married Sandra Perkins on Mar. 17, 1969, in Lawrence. She survives, along with two sons, Rich Breshears, Baldwin City, and Billy Breshears, Lawrence; two brothers, Eugene (Jim) Breshears and Ward (J.J.) Shull, both of Lawrence; a sister, Donna Kochanski and husband Joe, Ozawkie; and one grandson, Ryan Breshears. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, Ward Shull.

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Sunday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 3-5 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Baseball, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.