William Joseph Williams

William Joseph “Bill” Williams, 65, of Wardsville, passed away Friday, October 16, 2026, at Capital Region Medical Center.

Bill was born May 20, 1961, in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of the late Leo and Mary Lou (Schaefer) Williams. He graduated from Helias High School in 1979 and completed his bachelor’s degree in agriculture at Lincoln University in 1986.

On June 7, 1986, he married Lanie Stegeman at Immaculate Conception Church in Jefferson City.

Bill spent his working life in food sales industry. He got his start at Schulte’s IGA while in high school and from there he became the produce manager at a grocery store in California. He went on to Menu Maker, where he served as Director of Sales before returning to sales, and later joined Kohl’s Wholesale retiring on May 1, 2026.

Bill was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Wardsville. After high school, he helped coach and manage the PAL football league, giving local kids a place to learn and love the game.

Bill was happiest outdoors, with a fishing pole in hand or out in the woods during hunting season. College and high school football was his favorite sport while Christmas was his favorite holiday. He enjoyed traveling, making many trips to Florida to watch the Cardinals at spring training. Above all, he was devoted family man. He was all about “US” (family), making sure his family was taken care of and his grandkids got whatever they wanted. Nothing meant more to him than time with his boys and grandchildren, and he was proud of every one of them, and they affectionately called him PaPa. He was a quite humble man that loved the simple things in life and to date treasured many childhood friendships.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Lanie Williams, Wardsville; his three sons, Chris (Jamie) Eiken, Russellville; Todd (Kendra) Williams, Wardsville; Ryan (Whitney) Williams, Loose Creek; six grandchildren, Emma Eiken, (fiancé Hayden Carel), Clayton Eiken, Carson Williams, Wyatt Williams, Boone Williams, Hunter Williams; a sister, Diana Boillot, Jefferson City; and two sister in laws, Yvonne Wilbers and Lori Richter, both of Wardsville; two brother in laws, Joe Stegeman, Jefferson City; and Jeff Stegeman, Sedalia.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Brian “Kip” Williams; and two brothers-in-law, Ben Boillot and Robby Wilbers.

A prayer service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Fr. I.C. Medina officiating with a celebration of life gathering following until 2 p.m. at the Wardsville/Osage Bend Knights of Columbus Hall in Wardsville. Private inurnment will be held at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com

Note: This obituary is protected against unauthorized reproduction or redistribution without the funeral home's or family's consent.