Obituary

Dr. Willis Esau

Obituary

Dr. Willis "Cot" Esau departed for those happy hunting grounds through heaven's gates at 5:05 p.m. on Friday (December 23, 2016).

He was born to Nickolai and Helen (Regier) Esau of Buhler in Hutchinson's Grace Hospital on August 30, 1927. He graduated from Buhler High School and then graduated from Bethel College in 1950, and in 1957 he graduated from UMKC school of Dentistry earning a doctorate in dental surgery. He was honored to have served the Hutchinson area as a dentist for more than 50 years, from 1957 until 2007. Dr. Esau was an astute historian, passionate conservationist, gardener and caretaker of God's creation, sportsman, scientist and educator.

He is preceded in death by his parents; Nickolai and Helen (Regier) Esau, and brother in-law; Ed Kerens.

Cot was many things to many people.

He is survived by and was a devoted husband for 68 years to Eunice (Unruh), the best father to Sherry (Mark) Krehbiel, Rex (Connie Wedel) Esau, Vickie (Robert) Howard, and Todd (Julie Moore) Esau. He was a role-model to his nine grandchildren: Mindy Burr, Kyle (Kara) Krehbiel, Jacob (Erin) Krehbiel, Travis (Jenni) Howard, Straton (Caroline) Howard, Halie Howard, Kateisha (Fabian) Porta, Cole (Meghan) Esau, Natasha Esau, Jordan (Ashley) Esau, and Michaela Esau. He is also survived by his sisters; Lu Kerens, and Rachel (Wilbur) Neufeld. Cot was also blessed with 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

A visitation to greet the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 29, 2016) and the memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday (Dec. 30, 2016), both at First Mennonite Church, 52 Rambler Road, Hutchinson, Kansas 67502.

Memorials designated by the Esau family include the Mennonite Central Committee, 121 E 30th St, North Newton, KS 67117 and Hospice House, 1523 E. 20th Ave, Hutchinson, Kansas 67502.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.hutchinsonfc.com