William “Bill” Ray Andresen

William “Bill” Ray Andresen, 85, Palmyra Mo.,, passed away at 9:29 a.m., Monday, July 25, 2022, at home in Palmyra.

Bill was born Oct. 30, 1936, in Wheatland, Iowa, to Frank M. and Anna W. (Lange) Andresen. He was married to Carolyn Ritchie on Nov. 1, 1958, in Boonville, Mo. She followed him into death on July 25, 2022.

Survivors include two sons, Ronald (Kimberly) Andresen, Palmyra; and Gregory (Tammy) Andresen, Quincy, Ill.; one foreign exchange son, Manuel Ramirez, Costa Rica; five grandchildren, Camra (Dale) Begley, Palmyra; William (Jennifer) Andresen, Quincy; Shaun Andresen, Quincy; Scott (Natasha) Andresen, Quincy; and Allison (Andrew) Taylor, Palmyra; five great-grandchildren, Ethan and Cooper Begley, Palmyra; Brody and Jackson Andresen, Quincy; and Natalie Arnold, Palmyra; one sister, Mariann Bachman; and one brother-in-law, Bob Lentfer.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Eleanor (Lester) Lund, Howard (Waunita) Andresen, Ethel (Lloyd) Leinbaugh, Harriet (Clyde) Hill, Leroy (Hazel) Andresen and Phyllis Lentfer; and brother-in-law, Edward Bachman.

Bill served his country in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959, working as a boom operator, an aviation expert at refueling planes while in flight. 

In 1964, Bill purchased the John Deere dealership in Palmyra from Alva Vaughn. Bill and his wife, Carolyn, ran what became Marion County Implement for 40 years before retiring in 2004.

He kept himself busy in the community helping with numerous clubs and organizations throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the Quincy Woodworking Guild, Jaycees, Missouri 4-H, Cub Scouts, American Legion, board of directors at Spoon River College, president and longtime board member of Mississippi Valley Farm Equipment Association, Bethel Baptist Association and an honorary member of Palmyra Young Farmers.

Funeral services will be held for Bill and Carolyn at 10 a.m., Friday, July 29, at Mission Hill Baptist Church. Pastor Paul Reese will officiate. Burial with full military honors, performed by Boots-Dickson American Legion Post #174, will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra.

Pallbearers will be William Andresen, Shaun Andresen, Scott Andresen, Dale Begley, Ethan Begley, Cooper Begley and Andrew Taylor.

Honorary pallbearers will be Natalie Arnold, Brody Andresen, Jackson Andresen, Chester Bross, Carl Webber, Ken Crawford, Glenn Griesbaum, Rick Meyer, Louis Hoerr, Marvin Burns, Joe Murphy, Bill Goldinger, Inga MacDowell, Ace Minch, Mark Schlipman, Tom Luttrull, Ben and Gloria Early and Jerry Trower.

Friends and family are invited to Carolyn and  William’s life celebration that will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at Mission Hill Baptist Church in Palmyra. 

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Palmyra or Community Loving Care Hospice.

Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute viewed at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.