William Bunten obituary: William Bunten's Obituary, Dove Topeka

In Memory Of
William D. "Bill" Bunten
1931 - 2022

Obituary photo of William Bunten, Dove-KS
Obituary photo of William Bunten, Dove-KS

In Memory Of
William D. "Bill" Bunten
1931 - 2022

William Daniel Bunten, 90, of Topeka, passed away Friday, September 2, 2022.

He was born September 18, 1931, in Goodland, KS, the son of William L. and Nelle E. (Boyle) Bunten. He graduated from Sherman County High School in 1949 and from Baker University with a degree in business in 1953. He graduated from Washburn University Law School in 1955 and received a masters of finances degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1957.

Bill was employed in the banking industry for 50 years, working for Goodland State Bank, the National Bank of Detroit, Merchant's National Bank in Topeka, United Central Bank (and Bankshares) in Des Moines and INTRUST Bank in Wichita, retiring in 1996.

Bill was the chairman of the Topeka United Way, the Wichita United Way, the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Wichita and the Wichita YMCA. He was the director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wichita, the Washburn Endowment Association, a distinguished service award recipient from the Washburn Law School Foundation in 2009, the chapter chair of SCORE (Service Corporation of Retired Executives), trustee of the Lakeway Church, president and director of the Lakeway Airpark (in Texas), and director of American Home Life of Topeka.

Bill was a thirty-third degree Mason; an Eagle Scout and a member of the Boy Scout Councils of Topeka, Des Moines, and Wichita; a Rotary member in Topeka, Wichita, and Lakeway, TX; a member of the Valley United Methodist Church in West Des Moines where he was on the finance committee; an active member of Countryside United Methodist Church in Topeka; and a banking school lecturer.

Bill married Charlene Riemen on May 23, 1954 in Baldwin, KS. She survives, along with his daughters Jane D. Hanisch (Doug) of Wichita, KS Barbara D. Shuck (Jerry) of Mesa, AZ; and Patty J. Buckner (Brandon) of Fort Myers, FL; grandchildren J.D. and Gordon Hanisch; Rochelle Crawford, Will and Charlie DeVoe; and Sam, Nate and Madeline Buckner; great-grandchildren Jimmy Calvin, Makenna Crawford, Nora and Ben DeVoe, Courtney Rose and Elliette McKenna-Hanisch. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill enjoyed over forty years as a private pilot of a single-engine Piper Comanche N6267P, piloting splendid vacations with "Chuck" all over the USA and Canada. He also enjoyed golf, running, cross training, reading and dogs - particularly Irish Setters.

Bill was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held on Friday, September 9th at 1:00 PM at Countryside UMC, 3221 SW Burlingame Road in Topeka. The family will receive friends for an hour prior to the service and for one hour after the service. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to Washburn University, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621; Washburn Law School, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621; Baker University, P.O. Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006-0065; or Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Road, Topeka, KS 66611.

To share a memory or to leave a special message of condolence for Bill’s family, please click the Share Memories button above.
William Daniel Bunten, 90, of Topeka, passed away Friday, September 2, 2022.

He was born September 18, 1931, in Goodland, KS, the son of William L. and Nelle E. (Boyle) Bunten. He graduated from Sherman County High School in 1949 and from Baker University with a degree in business in 1953. He graduated from Washburn University Law School in 1955 and received a masters of finances degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1957.

Bill was employed in the banking industry for 50 years, working for Goodland State Bank, the National Bank of Detroit, Merchant's National Bank in Topeka, United Central Bank (and Bankshares) in Des Moines and INTRUST Bank in Wichita, retiring in 1996.

Bill was the chairman of the Topeka United Way, the Wichita United Way, the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Wichita and the Wichita YMCA. He was the director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wichita, the Washburn Endowment Association, a distinguished service award recipient from the Washburn Law School Foundation in 2009, the chapter chair of SCORE (Service Corporation of Retired Executives), trustee of the Lakeway Church, president and director of the Lakeway Airpark (in Texas), and director of American Home Life of Topeka.

Bill was a thirty-third degree Mason; an Eagle Scout and a member of the Boy Scout Councils of Topeka, Des Moines, and Wichita; a Rotary member in Topeka, Wichita, and Lakeway, TX; a member of the Valley United Methodist Church in West Des Moines where he was on the finance committee; an active member of Countryside United Methodist Church in Topeka; and a banking school lecturer.

Bill married Charlene Riemen on May 23, 1954 in Baldwin, KS. She survives, along with his daughters Jane D. Hanisch (Doug) of Wichita, KS Barbara D. Shuck (Jerry) of Mesa, AZ; and Patty J. Buckner (Brandon) of Fort Myers, FL; grandchildren J.D. and Gordon Hanisch; Rochelle Crawford, Will and Charlie DeVoe; and Sam, Nate and Madeline Buckner; great-grandchildren Jimmy Calvin, Makenna Crawford, Nora and Ben DeVoe, Courtney Rose and Elliette McKenna-Hanisch. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill enjoyed over forty years as a private pilot of a single-engine Piper Comanche N6267P, piloting splendid vacations with "Chuck" all over the USA and Canada. He also enjoyed golf, running, cross training, reading and dogs - particularly Irish Setters.

Bill was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held on Friday, September 9th at 1:00 PM at Countryside UMC, 3221 SW Burlingame Road in Topeka. The family will receive friends for an hour prior to the service and for one hour after the service. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to Washburn University, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621; Washburn Law School, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621; Baker University, P.O. Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006-0065; or Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Road, Topeka, KS 66611.

To share a memory or to leave a special message of condolence for Bill’s family, please click the Share Memories button above.

Services & Gatherings

Interment

Mount Hope Cemetery
4700 SW 17th Street in Topeka

Southwest Chapel (785-272-9797) is assisting the family

Southwest Chapel (785-272-9797) is assisting the family

Memorial Video

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