William Martin Stockman, 83, passed away December 2, 2011. Graveside inurnment services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 21, at Leavenworth National Cemetery, 150 Muncie Rd. Leavenworth, KS 66048. Online condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com.

He was born June 15, 1928 in Washington, IA. William graduated from Brighton High School in 1945, at the age of 16. He worked for the Milwaukee-Rock Island Railroad from 1945-67 as a telegrapher. A number of those years he doubled in construction, which he pursued exclusively until he retired in 1998. He served as a telegrapher in the U.S. Army in 1951. William married the mother of his children in 1955 and built the house they resided on N. Brighton Ave. in 1959. William was a poet with life of the party charisma. He was loved by many and will be remembered for his 'stand-up' sense of humor, charm, creativity and love for playing music with his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, William Isaac and Vera Stockman; brother, Kenneth Stockman; sisters, Esther Vargas, Juanita Fox, Donna Knifong; and son, Kevin B. Stockman.

He is survived by the mother of his children, Dorothy F. Stockman of Kansas City, MO; sons, William Michael Stockman of Kansas City, MO, Dr. David R. Stockman and wife Dr. Eve Buckley of Newark, DE; daughters, Rhonda Dewhurst and husband John of Kansas City, MO, Carla LaRocca and husband James of Lawrence, KS, and Jana Rodriquez and husband Shawn of Gladstone, MO; brother, Gerald Stockman of Amarillo, TX; sisters, Lorena Runyan of Rock Island, IL, Ruth Fuller of Des Moines, IA, Arlene Vargas of Muscatine, IA, Roberta Little of Des Moines, IA, and Sandra Deshon of Ames, IA; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.