Bill Amer 1934-2022

Billie Dean “Bill” Amer, 87, Topeka, formerly of Holton, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.

He was born Jan. 29, 1934, the son of Hubert and Mildred Amer. He graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in 1952 and received his associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College. He attended and graduated from multiple police academies.

Mr. Amer served in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 2, 1952, to June 1, 1955, during the Korean War, earning the rank of sergeant, serving in an artillery support battery. He worked in law enforcement for more than 33 years as a police officer for seven years in Mission Township (now Overland Park) and 26 years in Shawnee, retiring as police captain on Jan. 26, 1990. He and his wife raised cattle in the Holton area from 1985 to 2010. 

He was a longtime member of Denison Bible Church and Shawnee American Legion Post 327.

He married Marjorie Jean Denny on Nov. 18, 1956, in Overland Park. She survives.

Other survivors include four children, Terry Catron and wife Christie, in Texas, Linda Tornetta and husband Donnie, Orange, Calif., and Dianne Amer and Bill Amer and wife Mary Clare, all in Kansas; nine grandchildren, David, Elizabeth, Caris, Angie, Alycia, Troy, John, Meghan and David; and 10 great-grandchildren, Indy, Tilly, Posey, Grant, Laurel, Tia, Daryan, Alexis, Eli, and Otto.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Mildred Amer; his sister, Ramona Amer McVey; his brother, Tom Amer; and other family members.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow in Holton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakeview Faith Chapel, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.