William S. Encell

October 8, 1940 – August 17, 2023

William (Bill) S. Encell, age 82, of Omaha, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, August 17th, 2023. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born in Omaha on October 8th, 1940 to James and Maxine Encell.  He began high school at Omaha Central then attended and graduated from Omaha Westside in 1958. He spent the next year at Grinnell College before going on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in 1962 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and lettered in golf.  After graduating, he joined the Nebraska Air National Guard and became an officer, serving through 1969.  In 1963 Bill joined The Sun Newspaper where he eventually became assistant publisher. In 1978 Bill embarked on a fulfilling 37-year career at All Makes Office Equipment and retired as Vice President in 2015.

Bill was active in civic endeavors including the YMCA, United Way, Salvation Army, District 66 Westside Community Schools Council, and was also a long-standing member of Suthe Burban Rotary Club of Omaha. After retiring, Bill volunteered with Score Greater Omaha, an organization that provides free business counseling to start-up entrepreneurs.  He enjoyed helping people, and his work at Score was a rewarding opportunity to keep doing what he loved.

Bill was meticulous in everything he did, from his meeting preparation and presentations at work during the week to making his peanut butter, jelly (and butter) sandwiches and bloody Mary’s on the weekend. He believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well and that belief was evident in all aspects of his life. He was a great dancer, particularly ‘The Chicken’, which his grandchildren absolutely loved, and was an excellent golfer. His dad Jim was an avid golfer and passed on the love of the game to Bill at an early age. He grew up near Elmwood Park and used to camp out overnight in the trees between the 17th green and 18th tee, where he would sneak on first thing in the morning and play golf all day long. He reached ‘scratch golfer’ status for a few years in his mid 20’s and had a total of 8 hole-in-ones.

Above all, Bill was a dedicated and loving husband to his wife of 60 years, Kathy, and a devoted father to his children Lance, Jay, and Mark. Bill provided his family with everything that they could ever want or need. He never missed one of his son’s sporting events and always delivered on the biannual family trips to the mountains that created the lasting memories, stories and love for music that will be re-told and passed down for generations to come. He took great joy in time spent with his four grandchildren, Charlie, Adeline, Emerson, and Elly, and great-grandchild Esther, and cherished being a part of their lives.

Bill is survived by his wife Kathy; children Lance Encell (Andrea), Jay Encell, Mark Encell (Mary Warin); grandchildren Charlie Encell (Lucy), Adeline Encell, Emerson Encell, and Elly Encell; great-grandchild Esther; sibling Jeanne Rusthoven (Terry); cousins Liz Encell and Jeff Wynne; and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s memory to the Salvation Army. He will be forever loved and deeply missed.