Obituary
William Albert (Bill) Hann died December 6, 2020 after a brief illness. Bill was born to William Homer and Vera (Buckingham) Hann on October 14, 1939 in Bethany, Missouri. He spent his childhood in Mount Moriah, Mo. His father died when he was 10 years old and his mother, Vera, taught school to support the family. In 1955, Vera accepted a new teaching position and she and Bill moved to Belton, Mo. prior to his junior year of high school. Bill graduated from Belton High School in 1957. He Attended Kansas City University (now UMKC) and played center for their college basketball team. After one year he transferred to CMSU (Warrensburg), graduating with a BS in Education in 1961. After college graduation, Bill went to work at Fisher-Body before enlisting in the Army. He served in the Army from 1962-1965.
Bill married his first wife, Martina, in 1964. They had two sons, William (b.1967) and Steven (b.1969) They divorced in 1991.
After his discharge from the service in 1965, Bill returned to work at Fisher-Body, then left to try his hand as a car salesman at Fleetwood Chevrolet in Belton. In 1968, Bill went to work in the Trust Department at United Missouri Bank at their headquarters in downtown Kansas City. He was instrumental in starting their Employee Benefits Division, which administered retirement accounts (Pension and Profit Sharing plans). He originally specialized in Keough Plans. He was the 3rd person hired in the Employee Benefit Division at UMB and remained for 36 years as the department grew to well over 100 people. Bill retired from UMB as a Senior Vice President in 2004 after 36 years with the company. He was well respected within the company and the industry.
Bill was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He was active in the community, a past member of the Belton Economic Development Commission, a past board member of the Belton Athletic Association and past board member, treasurer and president of the Cass County Junior Athletic Association. As he transitioned away from the Belton community, he was a board member of the Linden Hill Homeowners Association, and an election judge with the Kansas City Election Board. In his retirement he worked the elections as long as his health permitted.
After his retirement from UMB he was finally able to put his teaching certificate into use, becoming a substitute teacher in the Lee’s Summit, Grandview and Belton school districts. This was a role, working with the kids, that he greatly enjoyed. In 1988 Bill hired Beth Crosby as a supervisor in his area at UMB. They worked so well together they ended up marrying in 1994. They were deeply devoted to one another and shared a perfect 26 year marriage. With the marriage, Bill acquired a step-daughter, son-in-law, step-son, daughter-in law, several additional grandchildren to go along with the one he already had and a large extended family.
Bill had a love, first and foremost, for his family, but followed closely by cars, bowling, baseball, football and basketball. His favorite pastime was watching the Chiefs, Royals, and MU Tigers on TV. He was probably their harshest critic and biggest fan.
As a young man he belonged to the DragMasters Car Club of Belton, who were associated with the Kansas City Timing Association and raced his drag car at the KCI Raceway. The club members also built their own racecar. He had a lifetime love of bowling and participated in several leagues including the Belton Businessmen’s League and the UMB Work League. He continued league bowling until his health forced him to give it up in 2013.
In 1968, while working at UMB Bank, Bill started a tax preparation service and continued it for nearly 15 years. Spurred on by his love of sports, Bill opened Bill’s Sport Shack on Main Street in Belton in 1978, which he retained until 1988. A very busy man, Bill was operating two businesses and a full time job simultaneously and coaching his sons in little league baseball.
After Bill and Beth married in 1994, they enjoyed traveling and spent vacations visiting Germany and Alaska. In other years, they took road trips to every corner of the US from Maine to Florida, to Southern California to Washington. Bill got to explore his passions for baseball and civil war memorials. These trips included visits to Cooperstown and Gettysburg which he savored.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William (Homer) Hann and Vera Bea (Buckingham) Hann. He is survived by his wife, Beth Hann; son and daughter-in-law William B. and Renee’ Hann; son Steven Hann; step-daughter and son-in-law Venus and Troy Van Horn; step-son and daughter-in-law Chad and Lisa Crosby. Bill has 9 grandchildren and their 3 spouses: William C. and wife Amanda Hann; Shea Corlee; Chase Crosby; Ian Corlee; Ross Crosby; Taylor (Dylan) and wife Taylor Corlee; Sara (Hann) and husband Cody Keeth; Miranda Crosby and Noah Hann. He leaves 6 great-grandchildren: Lyric, William D. and Journey Hann; Trinity and Chloe Corlee; and Cecelia Corlee.
In lieu of flowers contributions could be made in Bill’s name to any Hospice House organization, Doctors Without Boarders, Boys Town or Belton Athletic & Activity Booster Club.
Condolences
Visitation
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Services
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing of your loved one. I remember working with Bill in the 1970’s when we worked in the Employee Benefit Dept at
UMB bank. He was always a hard working gentleman and had a kind sense of humor.
Beth,
Bill was a soft spoken, understated sort of guy, gentle, caring, talented and very industrious. His love for you was always obvious and a pleasure to observe. I don’t have the words to describe how much he will be missed!
Your friend, Vic
Condolences to family and friends. So sorry for your loss. God be with you and give you strength.
Beth,
Learning of Bill’s passing was a very sad moment for me. He was not only a good friend, but he was also an encyclopedia of information for virtually all phases of employee benefits stuff when I arrived as a new kid on the block in EB Jan 1984. Al Klopp was my boss when I first arrived, but I could always get more understandable answers from Bill and he was a ready helper. He was a jewel in my view.
May God bless and strengthen you and your families during these trying times.
Don Green
Beth, I was wondering why I hadn’t seen your posts of FB but when I checked your page I learned of your husband’s death. I am so terribly sorry. My thoughts are with your family.
Dolores