William Joseph "Bill" Fritschen

William Joseph “Bill” Fritschen, age 89, of Hays, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. He was surrounded by his family at Via Christi Village in Hays.

Bill was born on October 19, 1936, on the family farm near Logan, Kansas, to Joseph and Norma (Paulsen) Fritschen.

After graduating from high school in Logan, Bill attended Benedictine College for a semester. He then transferred to Fort Hays State University, where he worked his way through college. He always said he took the scenic route to his degree, as it took him eight years to finish. He had a beautiful voice, and that led to a degree in music. He had the opportunity to star in the lead role in the FHSU Broadway production of “Brigadoon” and was a member of the FHSU Singers. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from FHSU in 1962. A few years later, he earned his master’s degree from Emporia State University.

Bill started his career in education before he earned his degree, landing his first job as a principal, coach, and junior high teacher at a tiny school in Glade, Kansas, when he was just 20 years old. He would say the best job he ever had was teaching vocal music in Seneca, Kansas, because that is where he met another young teacher, Judy Hahn, who became the love of his life. They were married on June 15, 1963, in Seneca. Over the years, Bill served as a choir director, assistant principal, elementary, junior high, and high school principal, coach, athletic director, and transportation director, working in schools in Glade, Logan, Seneca, Hoisington, Kinsley, and Ellis.

He retired after serving as principal of Washington Grade School and Junior High in Ellis from 1977 to 1995. Retirement for Bill didn’t mean sitting in a porch rocking chair. Instead, he taught himself technology, developed his own school administrative software, and sold it to schools throughout the surrounding Hays area. He and Judy also spent years volunteering for the AARP Tax-Aide program, with Bill eventually serving as state coordinator. They made a tradition of attending the Big 12 basketball tournament every year and also enjoyed several cruises.

They spent 15 wonderful years in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, watching their grandchildren, Reese and Brooke, grow up, attending their concerts and sporting events, and frequently enjoying home-cooked meals while laughing around the dinner table at their daughter and son-in-law’s home in Littleton, Colorado.

The final chapter of his journey brought Bill and Judy right back home to Hays, Kansas, where they lived at Via Christi. There, Bill enjoyed some of the very best parts of a life well lived: his daughter and son-in-law’s home cooking once again and the pure delight of welcoming a great-grandchild into the family.

Bill was blessed with an exceptional singing voice. He sang in and led choirs throughout his life, both professionally and simply because he loved it. He sang in the choir at St. Mary Catholic Church in Ellis, at Wind Crest Senior Living Community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and at Via Christi Village in Hays.

Bill leaves behind a legacy of music, leadership, a touch of chaotic school history, and an abundance of love. He was always quick to tell you that the absolute best parts of his life were his dear wife, Judy, and his beloved daughter, Diane.

Bill is survived by his wife, Judy, of Hays, Kansas; his daughter, Diane (Fritschen) Leiker and husband, Don, of Hays, Kansas; his grandson, Reese Leiker and wife, Emma (Stark), of Littleton, Colorado; his granddaughter, Brooke (Leiker) Becker and husband, Joshua, of Hays, Kansas; his great-granddaughter, Anneliese Becker; his sister, Mary Noel-Owens, of St. Joseph, Missouri; his brother, Mike Fritschen, of El Dorado, Kansas; his brother-in-law, Neil Hahn and wife, Linda, of Dallas, Texas; his sister-in-law, Sherry Hahn, of Potomac, Maryland; and his beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Norma Fritschen; his brothers-in-law, Francis Noel, Loland Owens, and Jerry Hahn; and his sister-in-law, Paula Fritschen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Saint Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th Street, Hays, with Father Damian Richards as celebrant.

Burial will follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 240th Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road, Hays, Kansas.

A Vigil Service and Rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M. Monday, led by Deacon Steve Urban at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at Saint Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorials payable to the Fort Hays State University Comeau Catholic Campus Center, in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences may be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left in the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.