Frank William “Bill” Perkins died suddenly in his Olathe home Sunday night. He was 68.
A big man with an even bigger heart, Bill spent his entire life in the Midwest. Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Jack and Georgie Perkins, he graduated from St. Edmond High School and Mankato State University, though his stories of that time period (especially once the relevant statues of limitations expired) didn’t include too many mentions of school.
Instead, if you were lucky enough to get him reminisicing, you might have heard about the time his car was struck (and pushed along the tracks) by a freight train in an ice storm, or when he T-boned a motorcyle, or the summer he spent fighting forest fires in Idaho before driving home via Colorado (to load every inch of his Volkswagen Beetle with Coors to bring back home to his friends.) He was undefeated as an amateur boxer, as the opponent in his sole match can verify. Some of these adventures were recounted when he hit a hole-in-one at the Fort Dodge Country Club and it seemed like half the town showed up for their free round at the 19th hole.
In something of a Perkins family trait, Bill firmly believed that everyone had a right to their own opinion — but should still enjoy the privilege of hearing his. (This made for some lively times at the Fort Dodge City Council during his term.)
Bill worked for a byproducts plant in Fort Dodge before a stint as a commodities broker. He later used that experience at National By-Products and its related entities, working his way up the ranks as a plant/district manager. That work brought him to the Kansas City area in the mid-’90s, where he was thrilled to be able to be near and spend more time with his beloved daughter, Cassie.
Bill has always loved to eat and to cook, and he took to KC’s barbecue culture like a duck to water. He mastered countless grills, smokers, probes and gadgets as he refined his methods for brisket, ribs and beans. (Recently, smoked turkey even started to take over at Thanksgiving meals.) He served as a barbecue contest judge, but of course his favorite venue to enjoy smoked meats was somewhere surrounded by family and friends.
Shortly after retiring from NBP, Bill started a new chapter as partner and co-founder of his own firm, TriStar LLC. Good years allowed him to add a home in Florida and a boat to his collection of “toys”, but Bill didn’t measure success by amassing assets — it always gave him great joy to be able to share, to tell a relative or friend that “hell yes” they should go stay at his place, “that’s what it’s there for!”
Partner, brother, uncle, friend — Bill was many things to many people, but what he treasured most was his role as father. Family meant everything to Bill, and he meant everything to his family. We will all miss him very much.
Barbara Lyman (Lyman-Kluck)
Remembering Bill
F. William “Bill” Perkins
11/20/1951-1/20/2020
Frank William “Bill” Perkins died suddenly in his Olathe home Sunday night. He was 68.
A big man with an even bigger heart, Bill spent his entire life in the Midwest. Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Jack and Georgie Perkins, he graduated from St. Edmond High School and Mankato State University, though his stories of that time period (especially once the relevant statues of limitations expired) didn’t include too many mentions of school.
Instead, if you were lucky enough to get him reminisicing, you might have heard about the time his car was struck (and pushed along the tracks) by a freight train in an ice storm, or when he T-boned a motorcyle, or the summer he spent fighting forest fires in Idaho before driving home via Colorado (to load every inch of his Volkswagen Beetle with Coors to bring back home to his friends.) He was undefeated as an amateur boxer, as the opponent in his sole match can verify. Some of these adventures were recounted when he hit a hole-in-one at the Fort Dodge Country Club and it seemed like half the town showed up for their free round at the 19th hole.
In something of a Perkins family trait, Bill firmly believed that everyone had a right to their own opinion — but should still enjoy the privilege of hearing his. (This made for some lively times at the Fort Dodge City Council during his term.)
Bill worked for a byproducts plant in Fort Dodge before a stint as a commodities broker. He later used that experience at National By-Products and its related entities, working his way up the ranks as a plant/district manager. That work brought him to the Kansas City area in the mid-’90s, where he was thrilled to be able to be near and spend more time with his beloved daughter, Cassie.
Bill has always loved to eat and to cook, and he took to KC’s barbecue culture like a duck to water. He mastered countless grills, smokers, probes and gadgets as he refined his methods for brisket, ribs and beans. (Recently, smoked turkey even started to take over at Thanksgiving meals.) He served as a barbecue contest judge, but of course his favorite venue to enjoy smoked meats was somewhere surrounded by family and friends.
Shortly after retiring from NBP, Bill started a new chapter as partner and co-founder of his own firm, TriStar LLC. Good years allowed him to add a home in Florida and a boat to his collection of “toys”, but Bill didn’t measure success by amassing assets — it always gave him great joy to be able to share, to tell a relative or friend that “hell yes” they should go stay at his place, “that’s what it’s there for!”
Partner, brother, uncle, friend — Bill was many things to many people, but what he treasured most was his role as father. Family meant everything to Bill, and he meant everything to his family. We will all miss him very much.
Frank "Bill" Perkins