William Gene Kvasnicka

William was born at the family farm near Lucas, Kansas, on January 5, 1930, to Fred and Eva (Herbel) Kvasnicka. He was known as Bill or Billy to his family and friends. He grew up in the Lucas area surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He attended a one-room country school, sometimes riding his horse to the school, and then attended Lucas High School in a class of ten girls and three boys.

After starting college at Colorado State, Bill transferred to Kansas State University where he studied agriculture and veterinary medicine. He was a member of Acacia Fraternity. Bill earned his undergraduate degree in animal science in 1952, and married Connie Copeland in 1953. Bill and Connie stayed in Manhattan where Bill earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1956. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps for two years.

In 1958, Bill and Connie moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where Bill joined a veterinary practice and he and Connie raised their four children. He later served as veterinarian at Meat Animal Research Center near Hastings from 1974 until 1985. In Hastings, Bill was active in the Methodist Church, Toastmasters, Chamber of Commerce, men’s and couple’s bridge clubs, and swimming at the YMCA.

In 1985, Bill accepted an appointment to be State Veterinarian for the University of Nevada in Reno. Bill and Connie moved to the Reno area where he served in this role until his official retirement in 2003. In Reno, he was active in the Methodist Church and Newcomers. He and Connie enjoyed weekend and day trips to nearby Lake Tahoe. They also traveled domestically and internationally for his career as well as visiting family. He especially enjoyed coordinating and attending annual Kvasnicka family reunions. He continued swimming regularly and a favorite hobby was cooking. Weekends often found him in the kitchen baking the secret family Kolache recipe or trying new recipes for the dinner club he and Connie belonged to.

In 2005, Bill and Connie decided to move back to Kansas to be closer to family. Again, Bill was active in the Methodist church and the lone male member of an aquacise class at the YMCA. He and Connie enjoyed reconnecting with friends and family in Kansas. They continued traveling often with the highlight being a 2012 family trip to the Czech Republic.

Bill passed away on September 27, 2025, at his home at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his wife Connie, his parents, and his sister Anna Marie Schulmeyer. Bill is survived by two daughters; Carol Karlow and husband Mike of Fenton, MO; Jane Parenteau and husband Mike of Estes Park, CO; two sons Kenneth Kvasnicka and wife Amy of Kirkland, WA; Dr. John Kvasnicka and wife Dr. Solveig Hansen of North Oaks, MN; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren with a great-grandchild on the way.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Aberdeen Village, directed to the Employee Scholarship Program, in honor of Bill. The link to give is: https://giving.presbyterianmanors.org/support-us-now/donate-aberdeen-village/

A graveside service will be held at D.W. Newcomers Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, located at 23215 W 75th St, Shawnee, Kansas, 66227 on October 4, 2025, at 3:30 pm.

A memorial service will follow at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 7740 Lackman Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66217, on October 4, 2025 at 5:00 pm.