Bill Gillen was born April 6th, 1929 to Mable Stewart Gillen and Matthew Wayne Gillen in Chicago, Illinois. He lived most of his life in the greater Kansas City area where he attended public schools including Central High School where he graduated in 1946.
He graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1950, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and National Honorary Scholastic Society. He completed the first two years of medical school at MU in 1952; in 1954 he received his MD degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Dr. Gillen served as a medical officer in the US Navy from 1954 to 1957 on the USS Monrovia. He then completed a two-year residency in General Practice at University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. While at University Hospital he met his wife to be, a nurse, Josephine Nocke RN, BSN. They married October 5th, 1958. From 1959 to 1960 Bill and Jo had a General Practice office in Ottawa, Kansas.
He served a residency in Anesthesia at KU Medical Center and was certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He was a former President of the Kansas City Society of Anesthesiologists. He practiced anesthesia at the former Providence-St. Margaret Hospital, Trinity Lutheran Hospital and the last 17 years at Bethany Medical Center.
Bill was grateful for the instruction of his mentors, for the support and friendship of his associates and patients and the love and support of his family when he missed family events through the years because of practice demands.
Billy Adron “Bill” Gillen, 93, retired Lenexa anesthesiologist died at home May 3rd, 2022 surrounded by loved ones.
Bill Gillen was born April 6th, 1929 to Mable Stewart Gillen and Matthew Wayne Gillen in Chicago, Illinois. He lived most of his life in the greater Kansas City area where he attended public schools including Central High School where he graduated in 1946.
He graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1950, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and National Honorary Scholastic Society. He completed the first two years of medical school at MU in 1952; in 1954 he received his MD degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Dr. Gillen served as a medical officer in the US Navy from 1954 to 1957 on the USS Monrovia. He then completed a two-year residency in General Practice at University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. While at University Hospital he met his wife to be, a nurse, Josephine Nocke RN, BSN. They married October 5th, 1958. From 1959 to 1960 Bill and Jo had a General Practice office in Ottawa, Kansas.
He served a residency in Anesthesia at KU Medical Center and was certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He was a former President of the Kansas City Society of Anesthesiologists. He practiced anesthesia at the former Providence-St. Margaret Hospital, Trinity Lutheran Hospital and the last 17 years at Bethany Medical Center.
Bill was grateful for the instruction of his mentors, for the support and friendship of his associates and patients and the love and support of his family when he missed family events through the years because of practice demands.
He developed a work ethic at a young age when in the 5th grade he became a shoe shine boy. In Junior High school he worked at the neighborhood grocery store, and worked his way through High School, College and Medical School for the most part as a painter and linotype operator. He learned the printing trade from his beloved Uncle, Vincil Stewart, whom he looked up to as a role model. He was grateful to his beloved mother for providing a home during his many years of education.
After retiring from medical practice, Dr. Gillen volunteered two summers with Habitat of Humanity through the First Baptist Church of Kansas City Missouri where he was a member since 1944. He also visited homebound members of his church for over 20 years.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Jo, his children and their spouses: Evelyn Cheshire (Gregg), Tim Gillen, Ruth Flynn (Travis); Grandchildren and their spouses Shawn Cheshire (Robin), Kelly Boswell and fiancé Robert Robinson, Caitlin Billings (Britt), Ryan Cheshire and girlfriend Grace Gulbranson, John Gillen, Joseph Gillen, Brandon Flynn (Holly), and “adopted” grandchildren Jim and Angela Athmann; Great-Grandchildren Katrina Cheshire, Garrett Cheshire, Connor Flagg, Hunter Dailey, Christopher Billings, Isabella Billings, Abigail Flynn, Gregory Flynn, Robert Robinson Jr., Alex Robinson and Waylon Robinson.
As an avid dog lover, Bill never forgot the dogs he was privileged to have during his life, Blackie, Jerry, Tippy, Andy and Max as well as all of his children’s dogs. A service in memory of Bill will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 14 at the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, 100 W. Red Bridge Road, Kansas City Missouri 64114. Private burial immediately following.
Bill requested no flowers and suggested donations to the Salvation Army, 1351 East 10th Street Kansas City, MO or to the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, Missouri.
