William "Bill" A. Sandberg, age 77, of Columbus, Kansas passed away 10:05 a.m. Monday August 23, 2004 at the Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo. after an illness.

He was born August 23, 1927 in rural Columbus, Kansas the son of Alfred and Cora (Anderson) Sandberg. He grew up and attended schools at Lone Elm School District and attended the Cherokee County Rural High School in Columbus, Kansas.

He was a farmer and stockman all of his life, and worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Parsons, Kansas, and the Census Bureau in Pittsburg, Kansas.

He served in the U.S. Air Force receiving an Honorable Discharge Aug. 1952 after serving 3 years in Germany.

Memberships include Center Christian Church, American Legion, and the VFW all of Columbus, Kansas. He was on the Farmers COOP Board of Directors in Columbus, Kansas

Mr. Sandberg married Janice Ruggels on August 15, 1962 in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include 2 sons Gary Sandberg and wife Lisa of Columbus, Kansas and David Sandberg and wife Rebecca of Pittsburg, Kansas, 3 sisters Doris Saala of Columbus, Kansas, Dorothy Sandberg of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Juanita VonWedell of Columbus, Kansas. 4 grandchildren Kaylee Sandberg and Shala Sandberg both of Columbus, Kansas and Emilee Sandberg and Nichlas Sandberg both of Pittsburg, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Charlie Sandberg.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday (August 26, 2004) at the Simpson Funeral Home Columbus, Kansas. With the Pastor, Tom Goettel, officiating. Burial will be in the Lone Elm Cemetery NE of Columbus, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday (August 25, 2004) at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, Kansas.

The family suggest in lue of flowers gifts may be left to either the American Lung Assoc., American Heart Assoc., or to the Center Christian Church and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home 323 S. Kansas Ave.