William Conk Buckley

Visitation: 4-5 pm Sunday April 20, 2008

Funeral Mass: 9:30 am Monday April21, 2008

W. Conkling “Conk” Buckley Sr., 95, of Springfield, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Heritage Manor-Springfield.

He was born March 28, 1913 in Springfield, the son of William T. and Margaret M. Buckley.

As a student of Springfield High school; Mr. Buckley was the leading baritone soloist in several musical comedies; was a soloist with the choir at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For several years, he was soloist with the Blessed Sacrament Choir.

He met his wife Veronica “Veron” Buckley at the Chicago conservatory, the Columbia School of Music where he was a voice pupil and his wife was a piano major. He also attended the University of Southern California. He and his wife were married in Omaha, Nebraska in 1936. His wife Veronica, formerly of Omaha and a well know local piano teacher, preceded him in death in 1994.

Mr. Buckley has been a member of the Rotary since 1939, succeeding his father. He joined his father in the W.T. Buckley Co. at Pasfield and Williams in 1935 where they were exclusive Geranium Growers. On his father’s death, he owned and operated the greenhouses until he sold them in 1955 whereupon he went into Real Estate in 1956 with Gail M. Wanless, and subsequently with a couple other firms. He was a well known member of the Springfield Board of Realtors and Multiple Listing.

He was a member of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. He was a well known sports enthusiast during his lifetime and was an avid fan of Iowa University and Notre Dame.

He is survived by a son, Conkling (wife, Bonnie) Buckley, Jr. of Kansas City; two grandchildren, Conkling (wife, Lisa Hendricks) Buckley III and Shannon Kathleen Buckley; and one great granddaughter, Ella Grace Buckley.

Visitation will be held Sunday, April 20 from 4 to 5 pm at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel with a wake service at 4 pm. Funeral Mass will be 9:30 am Monday, April 21 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

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