MEADE – William Lee “Bill” Schaben, age 84, passed away late Tuesday evening, April 19, 2016, at the Minneola District Hospital, Minneola, Kansas.

He was born November 1, 1931, at Bazine, Kansas, the son of Lee and Mildred N. (Cranston) Schaben. As a young boy he attended the Ness City, Kansas, school system. He later attended the University of Kansas where he played for the Jayhawk football team and was known as the “Schabe,” part of the Western Kansas Roughnecks. After his graduation he returned to the Ness City area and began his career in farming.

He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Meade. Bill enjoyed working, traveling, gardening, attending dinner theaters, helping others, and spending time with his family and friends.

On February 14, 1999, he married Elsie Blehm Porter at Meade, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include: His children,Mitzi Rezin of Kansas City, Kansas Robert Schaben of Lancaster, California Jezan Bastian of Tampa Bay, Florida Codi Schaben of Humble, Texas Bill Schaben of Viola, Kansas Lennie Schaben of Aurora, Colorado Jim Schaben of Columbus, Nebraska Jennie Mills o Glendale, Arizona Maxine Griffin of Littleton, Colorado Laurita Burbach of Collyer, Kansas Janet Cook of Tonganoxie, Kansas Kenneth Porter of Meade, Kansas Cathy Rosenberry of Meade, Kansas Judy Fox of Towanda, Kansas Jeff Porter of Meade, Kansas Keith Porter of Milport, Alabama; a sister, Wilma Gabel of Ness City, Kansas; 40 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Carol Cochran.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2016, at St. John Lutheran Church, Meade. In accordance to his request, he has donated his body to medical science at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Private family committal services will be held at a later date.

The family would welcome memorials to the St. John Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall Fund in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.