William "Bill" Benedict Kirchens

William "Bill" Kirchens of Flippin, Arkansas passed away surrounded by his family on May 6, 2021 in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 85. He was born January 16, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, and was the oldest child of Bernard and Gertrude Jansz Kirchens. He married Paula Ann Naze on October 12, 1963 in Rockford, Illinois and shared more than 57 years together. William grew up in Chicago and moved to Bull Shoals in 1976 from Schaumburg, Illinois. Flippin became his home in 1985. He was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church. He worked as a power distribution electrician, small business owner, and mechanic. William was a U.S. Army Veteran. His family was everything to him and he enjoyed golf, bowling, traveling, and was a loyal Chicago Cubs fan.

William is survived by his wife, Paula Kirchens; daughters, Diane (Michael) Spain, Kimberly (George) Gussy, Lori (Gary) Lander, and Keri (Dannie) Neely; brothers, Bernard (Joy) Kirchens, Jr., and Joseph (Patricia) Kirchens; grandchildren, Josh Spain, Jake (Nhai) Spain, Kyle Payton, Joshua Payton, Timothy Payton, Heather (Michael) Hammel, Becca Kirchens, Kayla Gussy, Sean Neely, Meaghan Neely, Shealynn Lander, and Jayda Lander; and great-grandchildren, Emberlynn Spain, Keaton Carpenter, Devon Payton, Khloe Payton, Kahle Kirchens, Jonah Payton, Joslyn Payton, Madison Hammel, Norah Kirchens, Hudson Hammel, Claire ILY Ormiston, Charlotte Hammel, Knox Payton, Turner Payton, William Paul Payton, and Austin Hammel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Margaret Dillon, and Bernadine Theis; brother, Lambert Kirchens; grandson, Devon Gussy; and granddaughter Jessica Payton.

A Funeral Mass for William will be 10:30 am Saturday, May 15, 2021 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Yellville, with Father James Fanrak officiating. A private entombment will be Sunday, May 16, 2021 at Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery in Gassville, with Michael Spain, Gary Lander, Dannie Neely, Kyle Payton, Joshua Payton, Timothy Payton, and Sean Neely as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Heather Hammel, Becca Kirchens, Kayla Gussy, Meaghan Neely, Shealynn Lander, and Jayda Lander. George Gussy will serve as acolyte.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Catholic Church and Shriner's for Children.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com .