William "Bill" Henningsen

William “Bill” Henningsen, age 58, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at his residence. He was born on Thursday, March 5, 1953, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Henry Edward and Mary Catherine (Towey) Henningsen. Bill has been a resident of Ottawa since 1991. From 1953 to 1975, he lived in Omaha, Nebraska; and, 1975 to 1991, St. Joseph, Missouri and Savannah, Missouri. Bill graduated from Cathedral Catholic High School, Omaha, Nebraska, with the class of 1971. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, in 1975. He also obtained his teaching certificate from Benedictine. He was catcher for the Ravens baseball team four years, and played on the Ravens basketball team while attending Benedictine. He was a financial advisor for Edward Jones for twenty-two years. He previously taught Freshman English for four years at Lafayette High School, where he was also a coach for girls basketball and boys baseball. Bill was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa, where he served on the finance committee. He served on The Catholic Foundation Northeast Kansas Board. He was a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus member of Ottawa Council #3018 and 4th Degree Knight of Bishop Jean Baptiste Miege, Paola Assembly #3068. Up until his illness this spring, he served on the Board of Directors at the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. He was past chairman serving on the Legislature Committee as moderator of the legislative coffee and candidate forums. Since 2007, he served on the Ottawa/Franklin County Economic Development Committee. In 2000, he became a member of Ransom Memorial Hospital Charitable Association, having chaired that committee since 2001. In the early 1990’s, he served as campaign chairman of the Franklin County United Way and also chairman of the Fair Share Giving. He was a former member and past president of Ottawa Rotary Club; He was actively involved in the Ottawa Youth Baseball program for sixteen years, having served as coach of the Rotary Team of the Ottawa Babe Ruth League and later coached the Ottawa American Legion “A” Team. Since the early 1990’s, he was a member of the Ottawa American Legion Baseball Board. On February 10, 1979, Bill was united in marriage with Deborah Kay Rich in Omaha, Nebraska. She survives of their home. Bill is survived by his: Wife-Deborah Kay Henningsen of the home; Son-Ryan Henningsen and his wife, Melissa, of Ottawa, Kansas; Son-Chad Henningsen and his wife, Lacey, of Wichita, Kansas; Brother-Gary Henningsen and his wife, Ann, of Omaha, Nebraska; Sister-Jan Schultz of Burnsville, Minnesota; Sister-Barbara Estep and her husband, Larry, of Yorktown, Virginia and Brother-Bob Henningsen and his wife, Jane, of Des Moines, Iowa. Bill was preceded in death by his: Parents-Henry Edward and Mary Catherine Henningsen and Brother-John Henningsen. SERVICES: A Funeral Mass will be held from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2011. IN STATE: Mr. Henningsen will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday. A Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church followed by family and friends visitation from 7:00 to 9:00. CEMETERY: Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to the following organizations: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart School, Benedictine College, St. Benedict’s Abbey, Saint Cecilia Cathedral, Saint Cecilia Grade School or Midland Hospice, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.