Dr. Willis James Wollmann

Moundridge - Dr. Willis James Wollmann, 90, passed away peacefully at Pine Village in Moundridge, Kansas on October 26, 2015. Born in Yankton, South Dakota on May 10, 1925 to Joseph A. and Elisabeth (Ewert) Wollmann, Willis grew up in Freeman, South Dakota. While driving the school bus for Freeman Academy, Willis met the love of his life Naomi (Tieszen), whom he married on September 8, 1951 at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Marion, South Dakota. 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. A long time Moundridge resident, Willis was influential in economic development by working with other civic leaders to bring Bradbury Company and Moridge Manufacturing (Grasshopper) to town in the 1960’s and to ensure that Moundridge received two interstate interchanges. He also served as mayor for 8 years and as a city council member for 18 years, continuing to attend meetings as a concerned citizen and to take notes for the Moundridge paper after he retired from public service. In addition, Willis helped to create the Northridge Senior Housing addition. When there was a shortage of suitable lots for new home construction, he purchased land and developed the Wollmann Addition in Moundridge. He was a member of the First Mennonite Church of Moundridge for 63 years and was a Deacon, a member of the board of trustees, and a church moderator for many of those years. 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 that entity’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. Willis is survived by Naomi, his wife of 64 years, 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 parents and his son Wayne Joseph Wollmann. Visitation will be held from 4-8pm, with family present from 6-8pm, Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Moundridge Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 11:00am on Friday, Oct. 30 at First Mennonite Church. Burial will follow at First Mennonite Church Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Pine Village and First Mennonite Church, in care of Moundridge Funeral Home.

Dr. Willis James Wollmann

May 10, 1925 - October 26, 2015