William Albert (Bill) Hann died on December 6, 2020, after a brief illness. Bill was born on October 14, 1939 in Bethany to William Homer and Vera (Buckingham) Hann.
Bill graduated from Belton High School in 1957 and Central Missouri State University in 1961. He served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1965. In 1968, he joined UMB Bank and worked for 36 years at its headquarters in downtown Kansas City. Bill had a distinguished career at UMB in its Employee Benefits Division eventually retiring as a Senior Vice President and Senior Pension Officer. He was beloved by his employees and clients alike.
Bill’s mother and father were active members of the Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church, often hosting the pastor for Sunday dinner after the church service. Upon moving to Belton, Bill’s mother became very active in the Belton United Methodist Church (now Crossroads United Methodist Church) and Bill made some of his first Belton High School friends through church activities. He was married in and raised his boys in that church, and he remained a member but did not attend services regularly in the latter part of his life. While not being particularly religious in a dogmatic sense, Bill had some deeply and sincerely held Christian spiritual beliefs. He was, however, certainly not the type of person to share much of that with anyone. Bill was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, a past member of the Belton Economic Development Commission, a past board member of the Belton Athletic Association, and past board member, treasurer, and president of the Cass County Junior Athletic Association.
Bill always had a love for his family, cars, bowling, basketball and sports in general. He was a member of the DragMasters Car Club of Belton and raced his drag car at the KCI Raceway. He had a lifetime love of bowling and bowled in leagues including Belton’s Businessmen’s League and the UMB Work League. He was competitive by nature and often surprised people who knew him in other areas of his life with his competitive nature when it came to his bowling. He held himself to a high standard and often seemed to be particularly angry at his towel and the role he thought it must have played in his failure to pick up a spare.
Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit, love of sport and desire to serve his community came together in 1979 with the opening of Bill’s Sport Shack on Main Street in Belton. The Sport Shack was a full-service sporting goods store that served the communities of Belton and north Cass County. Bill continued his career at UMB and ran the store on evenings and weekends and with help from several dedicated managers and employees over the years. Coaches, athletes, and students from across the community could find most everything they needed at the Sport Shack from traditional team sports equipment, to letter jackets and PE bags and uniforms. This was truly a labor of love for Bill. He treasured the friendships that developed between him and the customers, many of which continued after he eventually sold the store in 1989.
He was at his core, forever and always, a devoted “family man” in the truest sense. He married Martina (Hodson) Hann in 1964 and had two children. He was devoted to his children, spending countless hours with them teaching, coaching, and volunteering his time in support of all their athletic and academic interests. He invested himself fully in their lives and was a constant, steady, and supportive presence for his family.
In 1994, he married Beth (Crosby) Hann. He and Beth enjoyed a tremendous love and devotion for each other. They enjoyed travelling together, visiting Germany, Alaska and taking many driving vacations across the United States. Bill embraced his role as stepparent and grandparent. He loved all his grandchildren and great grandchildren and continued his practice of supporting all of their endeavors with his unwavering devotion and presence at any event he could attend.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Homer Hann and Vera Bea (Buckingham) Hann. He is survived by his wife, Beth Hann; his son and daughter-in-law William B. and Renee’ Hann; his son Steven Hann; his stepdaughter and son-in-law Venus and Troy Van Horn; his stepson and daughter-in-law Chad and Lisa Crosby. Bill has 12 grandchildren and grandchildren-in-law; William C. and wife Amanda Hann, Sara (Hann) and husband Cody Keeth, Noah Hann, Shea Corlee, Ian Corlee, Taylor and wife Taylor Corlee, Chase Crosby, Ross Crosby and Miranda Crosby. Bill had six great-grandchildren; Lyric, William D. and Journey Hann; Trinity and Chloe Corlee and CeCe Corlee. Bill also left behind countless co-workers, friends, and kids he coached who all loved and respected him immensely.
In lieu of flowers, Bill’s sons, William and Steven Hann, request contributions to the Belton Athletic & Activity Booster Club (https://www.beltonschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=124).
Services are under the direction of the Langsford Funeral Home, Lee’s Summit, MO. Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. with the funeral being held on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m., both at Langsford Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home
115 SW 3rd St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
(816) 524-3700