William Kekar

William Henry Kekar Jr.

William Henry Kekar Jr., 87, Topeka, died Tuesday, June 22, 2004, at a Topeka retirement center. He was born Oct. 25, 1916, in Topeka, the son of William Henry and Mina Stellhorn Kekar. He graduated from Highland Park High School, where he was active in all sports. He was a lifelong Topeka resident. Mr. Kekar was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. He served in the Hawaiian Islands during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He also served in France and Germany in the tank corps. He retired from the state of Kansas in 1978. Mr. Kekar was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church, where he was a volunteer for various duties and at the church and for Let's Help. He was a member of Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion, Philip Billard Post No. 1650 of the VFW and Moose Lodge No. 555. He married Lora Mae Nash on Aug. 12, 1967, in Topeka. She died on April 22, 1994. Survivors include a sister, Bernice Eberhart, Long Beach, Calif.; a brother, Richard Kek ar, Loveland, Colo.; and many loving grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Countryside United Methodist Church Chapel. Burial with military honors conducted by Post No. 1650 of the VFW will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Kekar will lie in state after 3 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 S.W. Burlingame Road, Topeka, 66611.