Bill's life was an amazing 94-year agglomeration of loving so beautifully — loving God's goodness, his family, his golf game, crossword puzzles, Economics (yes, including Agglomeration Economics), fitness, German food, old movies and John Wayne, small-town life (including his beloved Mt. Vernon, Illinois), punning (and always with a sly smile after he dropped one), the KC Royals and Chiefs, using words we had to look up (like 'agglomeration'), humility, and selecting just the proper phrases in the quest to state things delicately — a lost art, but Bill did it so well.

But most of all in this world, Bill loved his soul mate of 67 years, his wife Paka, whom he adored. It's the precious, timeless story of 'Love at First Sight' that can forever teach us how to love in the pure, authentic manner in which God intended — with grace, integrity and an abundance of patience and forgiveness.

There wasn't a proud bone in Bill's body — except for one anomalistic (another 'Bill' word that means 'a deviation from the norm) behavior — that of being proud that he did The New York Times crossword puzzles each day (even the Thursday and Friday brain-breakers) ... in ink. For decades. The amazing thing about Papa was just how much he valued simplicity and saw it as an important virtue, when he easily could have touted his broad vocabulary and intellect.

We, the 'Papa Adorers' — his family — will miss everything about him. But he lives on inside each of us in that we can all learn so much from how his love and concern demonstrated such a vast, yet humble, wisdom.

So we say 'Farewell, just for now, Bill/Dad/Papa' ... the pain we feel simply reminds us that this Earth is not our home. It's not our home ... We'll see you soon.

And we know this: The Chiefs will win the Super Bowl again, because you'll be the angel in red and gold, cheering them on to victory.

With All Our Love, Paka (Wife), Libby and Sally (Daughters), Kevin and Steven (Sons in law), Erik, Tyler, Brenna, Blayne, Erin (Grandchildren), Jessica, Scott, Matthew, Davis (Grandchildren's spouses) and Liam, Emma, Crosby and soon-to-come Addison (Great-Grandchildren).

Born December 5, 1926. Died February 1, 2021. Grew up in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, attending University of Illinois, where Bill played football, then transferred to Southern Illinois University (B.S. and Ph.D.). M.S. from University of Arizona. Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. His career went from being an assistant football coach while pursuing his advanced degrees to teaching Economics at UCM for 23 years (Chairman of the Economics Department for a portion of those years). Retired from UCM in 1990. Celebration of life to be planned at a later date.

Celebration of life to be planned at a later date. Any memorials can be donated to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 300 S. Ridgeview Dr. Warrensburg, MO 64093. "In Memory of Bill Thompson" noted.  Thank you.