Anita,
With the arrival of the York TCA meeting
a lot of his friends will realize we will not be seeing the two of you there in the White Hall as in years past. It was a pleasure to meet the two of you there and exchange short stories. You always got Bill to sign my copies of his books, which he did with a smile. Bill will be missed and your smile will be missed at York.

May Bill rest in peace, and hear those steam whistles in the clouds above. God Bless.

Tom Grimason

Anita, 
Just learned of Bill's passing this morning. Have spent some time reflecting on all the good times we had with you both at Mother's Rest, Friendship Farm. We so appreciated your friendship and all the good laughs we had together. 
You are in our thoughts and prayers. 
Paul, Linda, Dean & Wade Mills
paul@mills4mulmur.com

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for the support Bill and you gave to the UP Shops retirement dinners. It was greatly appreciated.

Anita Lee

My heart goes out to you at this very difficult time.  You need to remember the good times and all the fun things you did.  My deapest sympathy to you and your family.

Kratville Family;

Sorry for the passing of Bill. He always treated me well. Also, he was friends for 60 years with my late father Peter Vana Jr, a train buff and WWII Normandy Combat vet. They shared train and war stories for years. Bill was always approachable.

In 1988, Amtrak moved me to Omaha for some new job responsibilities. Bill was always there for me, making me feel at home.  He was always willing to share his knowledge about Amtrak, Omaha, the territory I was assigned to, and railroading in general.  More important than all that, he became a good friend.

Even after my departure from Amtrak, I was delighted stay in touch.  In the last year or so, Anita has gone through much, and my prayers and condolances go out to her and the family.

Anita-Lee, I don't know if you will get this as you do not  have a email address but Bert does so I am sending you this message.
I want you to know that I would have come out to be with you but you said not to.  I know Bert and Ray will be with you so I am not worried about you being alone.
My prayer will be with you today and the coming days.
You were a good wife to Bill and the two of you had so much fun together. You two had a happy marrage.
When you move to California, I know you will be happy with all your family. They are wonderful children.
Take care, and I will see you soon.
Love, Your sister Gail and Don

Bill and I spent many an hour operating his trains in the basement of his house. We played basketball together at the church, even winning the championship one year. We also attended the church's youth group. Bill would come through Cincinnati in his private rail car and I would go to the station to see him for the few minutes the train stopped on its way east. I had Bill autograph one of his books that was circulated by the Hamilton County Library.He also included some appropriate words concluding with, "Happy rails to you".. Someone checked out the book, liked what Bill wrote, and never returned the book to the library for others to enjoy. If there are trains in heaven Bill will be at the controls of one of them, high balling down the line.

March 16, 2011
Anita, we are so sorry for your lose.  Bill was such a knowledgeable person when it came to RRing and the U.P. in particular. My brother Perry and I looked forward to seeing him at the U.P. conventions we attended. May He give you the strength to carry on. Perry, Jim and Paul Becker. Perry's Hobbies

I first met Bill back in 1994 or so on a trip to Omaha and saw him practically every year since. He was a big influence in my subsequently acquiring and restoring a railroad car, which, in fact, he owned at one time back in the 1970s. So every time I take a trip on that car, I will surely remember Bill fondly. He was a true giant in the world of railroads and railroad photography and will be sorely missed. Happy rails to you, Bill!

You are your father's daughter, Cate; carry on! You have been given the gift of an astonishing "memory maker" Papa; and I cherish your stories of those memories he made with you. Hugging you, hon!

Mike I know how much your father meant to you and your family I send my deepest condolences to all of you. My prayers are with you.

Mike, I'm so sorry for your loss.  It is obvious your dad made a wonderful impression on all who knew him.  That legacy of kindness, knowledge and caring will, I hope, help ease your grief.  Our prayers are with your family.

Bill's interest and knowledge of mid-western railroading will be sorely missed.  A gentleman all-the-way, every day.  While he published my first five railroad books, he also instructed me in graphic arts and book preparations.  His research and help at the Western Heritage and later Union Pacific Museums aided many mid-west historians...alway cheerfully and completely.  He WILL be missed, but he left us with a great legacy.  Thanks, for the last time Bill!

Dear Kratvilles.  What a delight it was for us to know Bill Kratville.  He was a dear friend to my husband Harold Sherman and our family.   He shared many train trips with us -- football games in Lincoln, train rides behind awesome steam engines, a train trip to Mt Rushmore on a special car with the Kratville family, (each of us with our two little children) and SO much more. We are grateful for his ready smile, the twinkle in his eye when he recognized you, his great knowledge of trains he shared via books, talks and much more.  

We will miss Bill Kratville, but his legacy of trains and Friendship lives on.  We go through the train cars at Durham and relive the terrific times we had on those beautiful cars.  

I'm sure he was ready when they called "All Aboard" on the train to Heaven.  Love and peace be with you all.  His memory lives on.

It was my privilege to have met Bill on a number of occasions, at the Omaha Press Club and once in a railyard when we were photographing the same train. I am saddened at the loss of this kindly man, whose passions for railroading and photography quickly became apparent to those who knew him.

I met Bill in 1969.  He was wearing striped overalls, had an oil can with a long spout in his hand, and that great smile on his face.   He had just climbed out from under a train car. 

My wife and I worked on the trains that went to the Nebraska football games in the early seventies. 

Bill a genuine "one of a kind."   He will be truly missed by all that knew him.

BILL NOT ONLY RECORDED, PHOTOGRAPHED AND WROTE ABOUT RAILROAD HISTORY BUT HE HELPED MAKE IT TOO WITH HIS ROLE IN THE CREATION OF AMTRAK. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO KNOW HIM AND I DARE SAY ALL OF US IN THE RAILROAD BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY ARE THE BETTER FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS.

I am saddened to hear of Bill's passing. I often spoke to him and his wife when they attended the TCA meet in York Pa.  A very nice man I will miss seeing. RIP Bill. God Bless.

I have never met Mr. Kratville but I am greatful for all he has done to preserve history sharing his passion for the railroad through many of his excellent books.

To Bill's family and friends --

I only knew Bill slightly, but he always seemed like a wonderful gentleman.  The world is a poorer place because he is gone now -- to that great roundhouse in Heaven. 
I send my deepest condolences to all of you.  My prayers are with all of you.

Bill gave me my first real job out of high school at Auto Liner Corp in So. Omaha. Bill recognized my fascination of railway equipment and encouraged me to go rail fanning with him. It was that mutual interest that began a friendship that lasted for decades. I will always remember him as the intelligent, sweet man with an easy smile & the friendship that he shared with me. I will miss my friend that I respected a great deal. To Anita & family, I am truly sorry for your loss.

It was Bill Kratville's books on the Big Boy, the Challenger and the Mighty 800s, along with Motive Power of the Union Pacific that reconnected me with my love of railroads and UP Steam. He was my hero. I was nervous the first time I called him and he put me immediately at ease. What a great guy, and a great photographer. I was privileged to know him.

Rip Rice

Was a true railroad fan and a good friend to the hobby

I always enjoyed the moments i spent with Bill - From the first time I met him - He made you feel he had known you all his life.  I will always recall him as a man who LOVED history and was history himself.  I remember one of the times we met and he had just returned from the farmhouse where his mother was born - 100 years to the HOUR and took a photo of the house with his favorite camera - He was THAT in touch with where he was in the timeline of things.  Oh, how I wish more people could be like Bill - A little of him, for sure, will always be with me...

Mike-I am so sorry to hear of this news.
May you know your dad is riding trains in Heaven and at peace.
You and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Yvette Polinsky

It wad such a pleasure knowing Bill. I remember being little and him taking my brother and I to the attic and playing with trains, and hearing some of his unforgettable stories of railroading. I'm sorry for your loss Anita, Bill will be greatly missed. Best wishes to you and your family.

Bill taught me a great deal about life, friendship, commitment to task and giving to others.  I am forever privileged to have had the opportunity to not only "railfan" with him in many capacities, but also to work with Bill in a number of projects over many years.  Bill leaves a legacy of railroad publishing and other works which will forever benefit others interested in such subjects.  He is known the world over and will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Michael, I am blessed to have known your father.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Bill Kratville and I had one thing in common. We both LOVE trains. And anywhere I saw Bill, I was ALWAYS greeted with a smile and a genuine, warm handshake. Bill's passing is a HUGE loss for all rail fans. Bill had more knowledge of railroading in his little finger than most railroaders had between their ears. Besides all that, he was a genuinely nice guy. I NEVER heard Bill say anything bad about anyone...ever...period. Not since the passing of the great Lloyd Stagner has a loss like this occurred. He will be sorely missed. Warmest Regards to Bill's family and his endless friends, Mark Tweeddale / Columbia, MO.

Mr. K,

R.I.P. to a loving Dad and good friend. We were so blessed to have you as a friend. 

To a Good Man! Rest in Peace. God bless Mike, Sue & Isabel Kraville & Kathyn Kratville.

God Speed,

Lloyd & Julie Mosley

OBITUARY

William W. Kratville

13 August, 1929 – 14 March, 2011

Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home & Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park

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