In Memory: William Joseph "Bill" Banes

William J. "Bill" Banes (July 7, 1940 - May 18, 2009)
William Joseph “Bill” Banes, age 68, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away Monday, May 18, 2009, at the Bothwell Clinic in Warsaw. He was born in Holden, Missouri, on July 7, 1940, the son of William Lee and Josephine Edna Zvacek Banes.

He grew up in the Holden community and graduated from Holden High School in the class of 1958. He then attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, for three years. On September 17, 1963, he enlisted in the United States Army stationed at Ft. Leonard/Wood, Missouri, for two years. He was discharged on September 16, 1965.

On July 16, 1966, he was united in marriage to Donna Raye Browning at Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Following their marriage they made their home in Lee’s Summit. Unto this union two sons were born. He then began working at AT&T in Lee’s Summit and retired as a department manager in 1988. He and his family had been coming to their lake home near Warsaw on weekends and holidays for over twenty years. He finally became a full time resident there in 2004.

Bill was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing the streams and waters of the lake region with his family and friends for many years. He loved animals and birds, feeding the deer and squirrels that came into his yard throughout the years. He also, put out bird seed for his many winged friends and was diligent to provide jelly for the Baltimore Orioles. Bill also loved to cook and would provide wonderful meals for family and friends who where always welcome at his home.

Bill was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church of Holden, Missouri, having been baptized there in 1953. He was a member of Shawnee Masonic Lodge #653 A.F. & A.M. in Warsaw, the Kansas City Valley of the Scottish Rite having received the degrees there some forty-six years ago, and the Ararat Shrine Temple in Kansas City, and was currently serving as President of the Warsaw Shrine Club. Besides his duties as an officer Bill was always there to help cook meals for the monthly dinner meetings and many other events at the Warsaw Shrine Club. He was also a member of American Legion Post #217 in Warsaw.

Bill is survived by two sons, Craig W. Banes and Jeff A. Banes, both of Kansas City, two granddaughters, Jessica Raye and Marissa Paige, Bill's fiancé, Wanda Wilson, of the home, one brother, Bob Banes, of Holden, Missouri, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Services with Masonic Rites will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday morning, May 21, 2009, at the Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw, Missouri. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. prior to the services also at the funeral home. Bill Banes will be cremated and his ashes will be buried in the family plot in the Holden Cemetery, Holden, Missouri. Military Honors will be performed by American Legion Post #217 of Warsaw at the Reser Funeral Home following the services.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Shriner's Crippled Childrens Hospital in care of the funeral home.