Bill Zirger 1936-2025
William “Bill” J. Zirger left us peacefully at the age of 89 at the Kansas City Hospice House on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9100 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS 66206. A visitation and dinner will follow the service.
Bill was born to Albert Edward and Genevieve Elizabeth (Ludwig) Zirger on June 24, 1936, in Holton. He graduated from Holton High School and continued his education at Ottawa University in Ottawa, where he played varsity football. He then transferred to Washburn University in Topeka.
While at Washburn, Bill met the love of his life, Millie Powell. Bill and Millie were married more than 60 years until her death in 2018. They lived in Topeka until 1980. In 1980, they relocated to the Kansas City area, living in Olathe, Lenexa and Overland Park.
During Bill’s lifetime he worked numerous jobs, starting with a bread route at the age of 15. He then went to work for a potato chip company, Gilk’s “Hi-Hat” Potato Chip Company in Holton. Bill eventually purchased the potato chip company with his family and became an owner and president. After they sold the potato chip company, he was employed by Ohse Meats and Hill’s Pet Products, both in Topeka. Also, Bill and Millie owned and operated Country Day preschool in Topeka.
After Hill’s, Bill went to work for Diamond International Corporation, Packaging Division, as regional sales manager with a territory of five states. In 1980, Bill opened his own firm, Creative Marketing Unlimited, in the Kansas City area, and continued to work until a couple of months before his death.
Bill was a member of the Petroleum Packaging Committee for more than 35 years.
He was a proud “50-plus-year” member of Siloam Lodge #225, Scottish Rite Lodge and Arab Shrine (Clown Unit), all of Topeka. Bill was a Past Patron of Beulah Chapter OES #34, Topeka; member of the Downtown Topeka Optimist Club, Washburn University Alumni Association and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Bill was very pleased to have been a founding member of the Banner Creek Science Center in Holton.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ruth (Liz) and son-in-law, John Hochscheid, Overland Park; nieces and nephews, Craig and Cathy Zirger, Cheri Zirger, Renee and Tom Evans, Elisa and Brian Berg, Brendan and Kristi Sneegas and Alison and Dave Borberg; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and Millie’s sister and husband, Marvie and Larry Sneegas.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Ed and Jenny Zirger; his sister and her husband, Doris and Jack Shell; two brothers, Merle (Bud) and wife Pat and Herschel; niece and nephew, Gwen Shell Neel and DeWitt Shell; great-nephew Joshua Zirger; and Millie’s parents, Myron and Ruth Powell.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Bill’s memory to Arab Shrine, Hospital Patient Transportation Fund, 1305 Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612; Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 9001 State Line Road, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114; or Sister Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th St., Kansas City, KS 66102.
For more, visit www.PenwellGabelKC.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
