William John Escudero

July 17, 2025

William (Bill) John Escudero was born in Columbus, Ohio on April 27, 1931 to William Syrus Escudero and Marie (Mary) Potterf. He passed away on June 24, 2025 at the age of 94 at KMH in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. His grandparents on his father’s side were William Escudero and Louise Schmidt and on his mother’s side John Florida Potterf and Grace Lloyd King. Bill is the second born of six children. He spent his early days in Ohio, and later in Winona, KS where he finished high school. Bill’s dad was a career army band leader and recruiter who played taps at President Harding’s funeral. When WWII began, Bill’s dad wanted his family in a safe place, so he moved Marie, Bill, and his siblings to Winona. Marie’s parents lived south of Winona on a farm near Russel Springs, KS. Bill had many fond memories of those days on the farm, as they were also a musical family. He loved going to the farm where he played with his uncles and cousins. Bill loved music all his life and listened to a wide variety of music, from classical to rock and roll. Bill was also a very good basketball player and excelled in math, always teaching his children and grandchildren to invest in the stock market.

Bill’s father retired from the military, but took a position as a guard in Camden, Arkansas. After coming back to Wynona, Bill’s dad became very ill and passed away with Bill and family at his side. Bill went to work and gave his paycheck to his mother, as the military had cut his father’s pension in half. Bill told his mother to save some money for his clothes so he could finish high school. Bill’s future wife, Joyce Jordan, from Russel Springs, KS was in Winona with her high school friends when she saw a handsome guy standing on the street corner. She said it was love at first site. After Bill graduated from Winona High School and Joyce graduated from Russel Springs High School, Joyce and Bill were married. Bill worked for farmers in the area and also was a meat cutter at the local grocery store in Winona. After their first four children, Nancy, Cynthia, Marilynn, and Paul, were born in Oakley KS, Bill went to work for Union Pacific Railroad in 1953. Later Bill and Joyce had four more children, Bruce, Lisa, Gary and Lori.

During his time working for Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), he had to learn Morse code, and he was responsible for hanging mail at a mail hanger for the train to pick up when the train came through. As a depot agent for the railroad, Bill was moved around to locations in western Kansas and in Colorado. When computers came about, he was sent to Nebraska for classes. Bill was instrumental in grain trains being developed in Cheyenne Wells, CO, and he encouraged elevator operators to extend their track to accommodate more cars. Bill took pride in his job and walked the track counting the cars to make sure each elevator had enough grain cars at harvest time. All his hard work led to Cheyenne Wells becoming a distribution center for grain within a 90 mile radius. At one time there was talk about pulling up the railroad tracks at Cheyenne Wells. Bill called a railroad official in Denver because there was meeting regarding pulling up the track in Cheyenne Wells. The railroad official thanked Bill because he did not know about the meeting. The official attended the meeting and stopped the track removal in Cheyenne Wells. Later, UPRR eliminated Bill’s agency in Cheyenne Wells, and he was going to be sent to St. Louis, MO to work as an agent. He did not want to be away from his family and Joyce did not want to move again, as the family had lived in many locations for Bill’s railroad job. Thus, after the depot in Cheyenne Wells was closed, for about a two year period Bill worked for UPRR in an office that had been moved to Range Ledger Publishing Company building. Following the two year period, after 38 years working for UPRR, Bill retired. He stayed busy after retirement, helping Joyce at the Range Ledger newspaper, traveling to Burlington selling ads, picking up the printed newspaper, and addressing newspapers.

Bill and Joyce and family made many trips to Russel Springs, KS to visit Joyce’s family and to Winona, KS to visit Bill’s family. Many family reunions took place in these towns. Later Bill and Joyce took care of Marie when she could not stay at home alone. They also took care of Helen Jordan, Joyce’s mother, until she went to live with her daughter Marjorie. During Joyce and Bill’s retirement, they bought a camper and boat and enjoyed fishing with their youngest daughter Lori, Lori’s husband Brad, and family. They went to Hawaii on vacation to visit their son Paul, who was stationed in the Navy. Bill and Joyce grew large vegetable and flower gardens and planted fruit trees. With the help of his wife and mother-in-law Helen, Bill learned how to can meat, fruit, and vegetables. He was also well-known for his homemade oatmeal cookies. He helped with sick children and took time to babysit his grandchildren, and he was not afraid to change a diaper. When his grandchildren came along, he loved every one of them and helped in any way he could during difficult times.

In his later years, Bill was able to stay at home and watch his birds at the bird feeder, go shopping, spend time with his family and his dog Max, watch TV, and go for rides around town with his daughter Nancy. Bill fought stage 4 bone cancer for several years, but Nancy did a good job taking care of him at home until he passed, with Marilynn helping take care of his dog Max, visit with him, and run errands. Bill passed away peacefully with his children and grandchildren by his side.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife Joyce, children Lisa and Gary, his parents, his grandparents, siblings Wilma, Frank, Louise, Harry, and Charlie, as well as grandson Jesse Bogenhagen and granddaughter Misty Escudero. Bill is survived by 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren with one on the way, and 5 great-great-grandchildren with two on the way. Bill was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great grandfather, uncle and brother and will be missed. Rest in peace, Dad.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Funeral services for Bill Easucero were held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the Wells Of Faith Fellowship in Cheyenne Wells.  Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wells.  Memorial contributions should be made to the Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells.  Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guestbook at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com.  Brown Funeral Home was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.