William Verdell (Bill) Mai

January 3, 2025

William Verdell (Bill) Mai was called home to his Savior on December 29, 2024 at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kansas.  Bill was born on June 21, 1936, at the family farm in Wallace County to William and Martha (Deines) Mai--the fourth of six surviving children.  He graduated from Wallace County High School in 1954 and earned a degree in biology from Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1958. He wed Wilma Seilheimer in 1960 and the two took over management of the Mai family farm, where they raised their children Cheryl, Carl, and Rebecca.
Bill was active in service to his church, the arts, and the agricultural community. He held leadership positions in his local congregation and in the regional synod of the Lutheran Church in America. He was a long-time volunteer or board member for the Western Plains Art Association and Fort Wallace Museum.  Highlights of his many service activities in agriculture included positions on the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, Kansas State Fair Board, Kansas Master Farmer, and Farmer Direct Foods. He was an active research partner with Kansas State University Extension. Concerned about declining water tables in the Ogallala Aquifer, Bill was a leader and promoter of a return to dryland farming in western Kansas.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Katherine, Carl, Arthur, and Raymond; and son-in-law Eric. He is survived by his wife; brothers Vernon and David (Linda); sister Marilyn (Patrick) Pickett; children Cheryl Goldenstein, Carl (Jacalyn), and Rebecca (Stephen) Gillet; grandchildren Dieter, Mattias (Catherine), Kai, Holden (Danielle), Miranda (Dalton), Benson, and James; and great-grandchildren Lydia, Hannah, Heinrich, and Callum.
Funeral services for Bill will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM MT at the Sharon Lutheran Church with Pastor Phil Knox officiating.  Burial will follow in the Sharon Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made out to Lutheran World Relief, Western Plains Arts Association, or Fort Wallace Museum and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, KS.