William “Bill” T. Erhardt, age 91, Concordia, KS, passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023 at Smoky Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center, Salina, KS. He was born July 13, 1931 in Concordia, KS to Louis S. “Butch” and Mable (Paillette) Erhardt.
Bill has been a Concordian all his life. After attending Concordia Schools, Bill did construction work early in his career. Projects he helped build locally included the Co-Op Elevator and St. Joseph Hospital. He later worked for the Cloud County Highway Department and then the Burlington & Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1956 Bill went to work at Cloud Ceramics. He would work there for 36 years, doing a variety of brick handling/loading/logistics jobs. He was forever grateful for his long career at Cloud Ceramics and the many friendships that came with it.
Bill married Phyllis M. Lawyer on April 14, 1949 in Seneca, KS. From this union two daughters, Sherrie and Rozanna were born. Bill and Phyllis have spent a lot of time fishing and camping in the lakes around Concordia including Lovewell and Glen Elder. After retirement, they enjoyed being “snowbirds” in Texas for a few years until Phyllis’ health deteriorated. She preceded him in her death on September 17, 2005.
After Phyllis died and following a heart attack, Bill decided to get quite active. He started making trips to Wal-Mart almost every morning and started going to dances in and around Salina. He really enjoyed this activity and the new friends he made. In recent years he has become a regular at the Concordia Senior Center, playing pool and helping with lunch, rarely missing a day. Bill has been an avid fisherman all his life. He had his own bait that he had invented for catfish and, like any good angler, Bill had a lot of stories about fishing. He enjoyed all of his fishing buddies and the early morning hours spent on the water. Bill adored her granddaughter, Jillian, who spent many weekends growing up at her grandparents’ house.
Bill was a member of First Christian Church, the former Moose Lodge #1428 and American Legion #76.
Bill is survived by his son-in-law, Richard Radcliffe, Concordia; granddaughter, Jillian Richard (Craig), Overland Park, KS; great-grandchildren, Evie and Griffin Richard and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; daughters Sherrie Radcliffe and Rozanna Erhardt; granddaughter Melissa Radcliffe; his parents; brothers, John and Jim Erhardt; and a sister, Betty Alford.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, KS, with Pastor Bob Burns officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia. The visit will be on Wednesday 15 February 2023 from 1.00pm to 8.00pm at the Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials at the Concordia Senior Citizens Center by the funeral home. For online condolences, visit www.chaputbuoy.com.
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