(Lander, Wyo.) – William Michael “Bill” Kinsey, accomplished fly fisher and hunter, meticulous trip planner, dog lover, hard worker, ice cream lover, popcorn-aholic, and beloved husband, dad, Papa, and friend, died Thursday, July 16, 2015.

Bill was born on March 22, 1946, and grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the oldest of three rambunctious boys; his brothers are Michael Kinsey, of Valparaiso, Indiana and Robert Kinsey of San Antonio, Texas. A loving and devoted son, Bill enjoyed giving his mother, Jean Kinsey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a hard time about pretty much everything, especially her inability to hear well. She always said she hoped to live long enough to see him lose his hearing, too; perhaps out of spite, he died before she could realize that hope. In the hereafter, Bill joins his father, John William Kinsey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and his beloved dog Snaffles. Bill and John are no doubt fishing and bickering over cards together at this very moment.

A few years after graduating from Purdue University with a degree in chemistry, Bill joined the Army and served in Vietnam. After serving in Vietnam, Bill earned a Master of Science degree in psychology from Kansas State University. He began his career at Ball State in student affairs, and continued to help children as a social worker in Lander, Wyoming, working with Native American families on the Wind River Indian reservation. Bill’s commitment to children saw him endure a night in jail, rather than return a child to a dangerous situation. Eventually, however, Bill found himself working for the U.S. Army, where his attention to detail, honesty, and hard work made him a trusted budget advisor to the leadership of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Bill also believed in the power of people to make a difference locally and globally. His belief led him to serve as a longtime member of the Rotary Club.

Bill’s lot in life was to be surrounded by women – even the dog is a girl, he was fond of saying. Bill met his wife Delores “Dee” Kinsey of Lander, Wyoming and Las Cruces, New Mexico, at Kansas State University. She heard his loud and distinctive voice before she saw him, and, intrigued, she introduced herself and later agreed to a date, during which he wooed her with popcorn and water. The rest is history. On August 19, 1973, Bill became Dee’s husband, life partner, best buddy, and soulmate. For nearly 43 years, they backpacked, camped, golfed, traveled, raised their twin daughters Ashley Ostrand of Colorado Springs, and Alicia of Washington, DC, and doted on their six grandchildren, Virginia, William, Victoria and Eleanor Rose Ostrand, and Uma and Siddhartha Dulani. He taught “his girls” to love nature, respect wildlife, change the oil in the car (which they both promptly forgot how to do), and to be generous and giving.

Bill excelled at eating – and enjoying – anything Dee served (except her tuna gravy) and prided himself on his thorough clean-up at the end of each meal. Indeed, to the occasional frustration of family and friends, no plate or glass left unattended in the vicinity of the sink escaped his attention, even those still half-filled with food or drink. He made the world’s best sourdough pancakes and waffles.

Punctual to a fault, Bill never missed “beer time,” which as all his family and friends know, is at 5 pm sharp. He complained loudly if circumstances conspired to delay beer time by even 5 minutes, or heaven forbid, until 6pm. He intensely disliked crowds, cities, construction, traffic, bad drivers, heat and humidity, waiting longer than 30 seconds for anything, and Tiger Woods.

Patience was not a virtue he possessed, and his straightforward and unvarnished communication style earned him the nickname “GAT” (Gentle and Tender). But he was always in a good mood, and always had a hug, joke, smile, or silly face or funny song at the ready. He was friendly and gregarious to everyone. One of his most endearing traits was his ability to laugh at himself. He also took pride in his role as the family’s “Heater” – he would gladly warm Dee’s icy feet or envelope his girls or grandchildren in a warm bear hug.

He loved to golf (he was enormously proud of the two holes in one he achieved in his golfing career), read science fiction and fantasy novels (the Lord of the Rings was a particular favorite), take picnics (which had to include peanut butter and crackers), hike, and camp with Dee and his grandchildren. He stopped to pet any and every dog he passed. More than anything, he loved to backpack, fly fish, and hunt with Dee and his girls, as well as with his lifelong friends.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, flight crews, and staff at SageWest Health Care Hospital in Lander, Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, and the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Colorado, for their tireless efforts, and for their dignified and sensitive treatment of Bill and his family.

Bill was not one for being formal or somber; he wanted his life to be celebrated with a party rather than a service. To honor his wish, family and friends are invited to the Kinsey house (800 Garner Drive in Lander, Wyoming) on Friday, July 24, 2015. We’ll raise our glasses in his honor on the deck at “beer time” – 5pm on the dot, the way he would have done. Please contact Alicia Kinsey at (202) 297-0779 for more information.

Two of Bill’s biggest joys in life were his children and grandchildren and the great outdoors. In his honor, the family requests that donations be made to the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) (all funds will go to scholarships for kids) or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Donations to NOLS in memory or honor of Bill Kinsey can be made online at http://www.nols.edu/alumni/giving/, or via mail at: 284 Lincoln St., Lander, WY 82520. Please note in the online form or on your checks that the donation is being made in honor of Bill Kinsey. A fundraising page has been set up at St. Jude in honor of Bill at http://giftfunds.stjude.org/billkinsey

If a donation is not your style or within your means, consider saying a friendly hello to a stranger, washing the dishes for your loved ones, doing a favor for a friend or colleague, or raising a glass of whatever you’re drinking at 5pm sharp in honor of Bill.