William 'Bill' Richard Drews, 89, passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Hutchinson Health and Rehab, Hutchinson, KS.  He was born September 29, 1934, in Larned, KS.  He was the son of Rutherford Richard Drews and Maxine Humphrey Rhea Drews.

Bill graduated from Wichita East High School.  He married JoAnn Elaine Bilsten on January 22, 1954.  They raised six daughters while living in Wichita and Hutchinson.  Bill and JoAnn loved watching their children and grandchildren participate in sports and other activities.

Bill's maternal great-grandparents and great-great grandparents settled a few miles south of Fort Larned in 1878 on two quarter sections bought from the railroad.  This family history led to his lifelong interest in Fort Larned and the Santa Fe Trail.  Bill retired after 30 years with General Motors, and later served on the USD 308 Board of Education.  He bottled and sold his own D & D Honey.

Bill is survived by: daughters, Stephanie Drews, Shannon Rayl, Sheridan (Jeff) Johnson, Susan (Mike) Horton, Staci (Neal) Dellett, and Sara (Hans) Hummer; sisters, Joan Noah and Margaret (Jack) McCormick; fourteen grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, JoAnn.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS, with the Reverend Dr. Kim Biery officiating.  The family will greet friends on the day of the service from 9:45 a.m. until service time at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, TECH, Inc., Fort Larned Historical Society, or Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.