William Michael Durso Sr.

Born May 23, 1952 in Glenn Cove, New York to the late Sylvano William Durso and Angelina DeNigris Durso, Bill entered heaven’s gates at dawn on Tuesday, March 31 while at home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bill dedicated his life to Jesus Christ in April of 1970 upon repenting of his sin and believing exclusively in Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross for his sin, thus receiving eternal life as the free gift of God, based solely on Christ’s work on the cross on his behalf.

Following his salvation, Bill’s life motto was based on his favorite passage of scripture:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Bill would be thrilled to know that his friends and loved ones would also believe Jesus’ promise to provide eternal life to all who realize their own good works cannot atone for their sins – that only trusting in Christ’s work on the cross can bring them eternal life with God.

Bill met his future wife, Carolyn, while attending Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. They were married in 1973 and raised their four children predominantly in Montague, Michigan. Bill was employed as a civilian in the defense industry prior to retiring. His favorite pastime as an adult was studying the Bible, especially utilizing his knowledge of the original languages, Greek and Hebrew. Most recently Bill and his wife have been involved in starting a new church in the Northland of Kansas City.

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carolyn Ayres Durso; his children Christie Anne James and husband Jason; Sandra Jeanne Kamphefner and husband Destry; and son Jonathan Paul Durso and wife Sarah; his sister, Patricial Keeley and husband Kevin, as well as his 13 beloved grandchildren: Charissa James, Andrew James, Elanna James, Kadence James, Abigail Kamphefner, Hannah Kamphefner, Megan Kamphefner, Shadric Durso, Emera Durso, Larkyn Durso, Hudson Durso, Lily Durso, and Amari Durso. Bill was preceded in death by his son Michael, his sister Joan, and his brother Joseph.

A resurrection celebration for Bill will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 10th at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road in Gladstone, Missouri. The family will be receiving friends at 10:30 am prior to the service. A light lunch and time of fellowship will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like friends and loved ones to consider a donation in Bill’s memory to the building fund of Bill and Carolyn's newly planted church, Fountain City Baptist Church.