On February 28, 2024 Earl Eugene (Gene) Willich age 79 went to spend eternity with His Lord and Savior. Gene was born January 14, 1945 in Horton, KS. to Otto and Clarice (Keys) Willich. He was a resident of Manhattan since July, 2017 having moved from Hutchinson, KS.
Gene is survived by his wife Sharon (Thompson) Willich of 58 years, a daughter Genae (Greg) Denver of Manhattan; Mike (Cindy)Willich of Shawnee, KS; Corey (Canise) Willich of Lee Summit, Mo.; grandchildren: Danielle (Denver) Wright, Mackenzie Denver, Tyler Willich, Brogen Willich, Cooper Willich and Carson Willich and sister Vanita (Willich) Harlan Hunt of Meriden, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents.
After graduating from Horton High School in 1963, he moved to Topeka to attend Washburn University. During that period he married his high school sweetheart and received his BS in Secondary Education in 1967. He began his teaching career in Sabetha, Kansas but soon returned to Topeka where he taught and coached at Jardine Jr. High. During this period he commuted to Lawrence where he completed an MS Degree at the University of Kansas in Secondary Guidance and Counseling.
This led to Dodge City where he served as a school counselor in both the Jr. and Sr. High Schools, and then an Administrative Assistant at the Area Vocational/Technical School. During this time he picked up several more graduate hours through Fort Hays State University for administration licensing. Gene and his family moved to Hutchinson High School as an Assistant Principal then Wamego High School as Principal.
His final career move was back to Hutchinson High School to serve in the counseling office before retiring after 41 years in education. While at Hutch High Gene served as the public address announcer for many of the school's athletic events, but mostly for the football and basketball games for 20 years. During much of this time he also announced many of the 3A state basketball tournaments, as well as the National Men's Division 1 Community College Tournaments hosted by Hutchinson CC. Gene spent 15 years in prison ministry with the state prison system as a volunteer meeting with inmates who received few, if any, visitors. Like many retired educators, he continued to work part time for the Hutchinson Community College in their Testing Center and substitute teaching at Hutchinson High School.
But the greatest aspect of his adulthood was coming to know God and the salvation of life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son. Gene served as a teacher, elder and deacon in Dodge City and Hutchinson.
God granted Gene many years to serve and guide Him. Gene particularly appreciated a message by a well know theologian, Max Lucado, who explained life with this thought.
“Note to self...
Age is no enemy.
Age is a mile marker...
a gentle reminder that home
has never so near.”
Services will be held at University Christian Church, 2800 Claflin Rd. Manhattan, KS. on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 1 p.m. Memorials can be made to University Christian Church, Manhattan Christian College, or Bramlage House-Meadowlark Retirement Community.