Willis James Wollmann (1925 - 2015)
Obituary
Dr. Willis James Wollmann, 90, passed
away peacefully at Pine Village in Moundridge, Kansas on October 26,
2015. Willis was born in Yankton, South Dakota on May 10, 1925 to
Joseph A. and Elisabeth (Ewert) Wollmann.
Willis attended Bethel College in North
Newton, Kansas and then served in civilian public service during
World War II. He then attended Washington University in St. Louis,
Missouri, graduating as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1952. Willis
opened an office where he practiced general Dentistry in Moundridge,
Kansas in 1952 and closed it in 1985. He continued his practice by
making dentures until 2013. He served as mayor of Moundridge for 8
years and as a city council member for 18 years. He also developed
the Wollmann Addition to Moundridge.
His first airline flight triggered a
life-long love of flying and he obtained his pilot's license in 1958
and owned several models of aircraft from then through 2011. Civic
duty merged with flying and he was influential in developing the
Moundridge Airport. He served on the airport's board and on the Board
of the McPherson County Airport into his late 80's. Willis enjoyed
flying his plane and travelled from coast to coast and from Alaska to
Mexico, traversing much of the North American continent. He was a
founding member of the Flying Dentist organization. After retiring
from Dentistry, he became a member of the Flying Famers, serving as
President of both the Kansas and International organizations.
On September 8, 1951, he married Naomi
(Tieszen) Wollmann at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Marion, South
Dakota and she survives him. He is also survived by daughters and
sons-in-law Janet (Marvin Leslie) Wollmann of Wichita, Jean (John
Schmidt) Wollmann of Wichita, W. Joyce (Glenn) Goldstein of Overland
Park, Marilyn (Steven) Regier of Wichita, and grandchildren Kyle and
Rachel Goldstein and Madeline and Drake Regier. He was preceded in
death by his son Wayne Joseph Wollmann.
Visitation with the family will be held
from 4-8 pm, with family present from 6-8 pm, Thursday, October 29 at
Moundridge Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 11am, Friday,
October 30 at First Mennonite Church, Moundridge. Burial will follow
at the First Mennonite Church Cemetery. Memorials may be given to
Pine Village and First Mennonite Church, in care of Moundridge
Funeral Home.
