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William W. Farmer

January 13, 1942 - January 1, 2015

U.S. Veteran
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William W. Farmer
1942-2015
Rock Port, Missouri

 

William W. (Bill) Farmer was born on January 13, 1942, in Clinton, Missouri, to Wallace E. (Jr.) and Alice B. (Johnson) Farmer. Bill attended first thru seventh grades at Washington School in Clinton. The Farmers moved to Osceola, Missouri, where Bill graduated in 1960.

 

On August 20, 1962, Bill married Marilyn Kay Stephens in Osceola at his parents’ home. They moved to Springfield and attended Southwest Missouri State where Bill graduated with a history degree. After graduation, Bill taught school for two years at Rogersville, Missouri. In 1966, Bill joined the United States Army. He attended Officer‘s Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, as a 2nd Lieutenant. While in Georgia, their first born son, William Christopher, was born in 1968. Shortly after, he attended Flight School in Fort Hood, Texas. Bill deployed to Vietnam in June 1969. He was shot down while flying a Cobra helicopter in September of 1969. He spent three years recovering at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver, Colorado. During their stay in Colorado, second son, Michael Phillip, was born in 1971. Bill was medically retired from the military as a Captain in 1972.

 

Upon his return to Missouri, Bill headed back to school and earned his Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from SMS in Springfield. He worked as a counselor at the Cox School of Nursing for a few years and then took a job with Disability Determination for the Social Security Administration office in Springfield.

 

Bill’s true passion was to run a newspaper. The printer’s ink became a part of him while working at the local paper shop during his high school years. In 1978, Bill and Marilyn had the opportunity to purchase both the St. Clair County Courier and the Appleton City Journal. This purchase brought Bill back to his high school stomping grounds and the family back to Osceola to live. Due to a brief illness, he sold these two papers and taught for two years at Lakeland High School. Then the black and white print drew him back in. Nephew Will Johnson called and asked if he wanted back in the business. Bill and Marilyn purchased the Atchison County Mail in 1984 and is still operated by the family today. Marilyn passed away on May 31, 2001.

 

In 2003, Bill was blessed with a second love. He married Sue Ellen Badberg on June 6, 2003. Sue spent countless hours making sure Bill had the love and care he needed daily. She gave him the will to continue even when he thought he couldn’t go on. Bill loved his family and enjoyed taking in as many school events and activities of his boys and grandchildren as he could. Bill was a member of the Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49, Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association, Northwest Missouri Press Association and the Missouri Press Association.

 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marilyn, sister, Emily Johnson Stone, his brother, Robert Johnson and sister-in-law, Catherine Johnson. Bill is survived by his wife, Sue; sons, W.C. and wife, Shauna, Mike and wife, Lisa, all of Rock Port; step daughter, Deanna Campbell and husband, Larry, Nebraska City, Nebraska; step son, Will Badberg, San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Wm. Chandler, Kaleigh, Makenna, Holden Farmer, and Jason Cook, all of Rock Port, Devon, Brittney Cropp, Nebraska City; Andrew Duck and William T. Badberg, San Antonio; great-granddaughter, Zailynn Cook, Rock Port; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill passed away on January 1, 2015, at Community Hospital-Fairfax in Fairfax, Missouri, at the age of 72.

 

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 11 from 1 -2 p.m. at the Atchison County Memorial Building in Rock Port. Service conducted by Rev. Rodney Hopper will follow at 2 p.m. Military rites are under the auspices of The United States Army. The family will hold a private inurnment at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49 or Rock Port R-II School District. Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com ~Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.