William J. “Bill” Brady, 74, Atchison, Kansas passed away Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Benedict Church with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A parish rosary will be recited Friday, February 17, at 6:30 P.M. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with visitation to follow until 8:00 P.M. Memorial contributions are suggested to Benedictine College and may be left in care of the funeral home. Online condolences and messages to the family may be left at www.arensbergpruett.com.

William J. Brady was born on July 30, 1942 in Frankfort, Kansas the son of Frank and Helen (Harrington) Brady. He attended Lillis Grade and Lillis High Schools, graduating from Frankfort High School in 1960. He graduated from St. Benedict’s College in 1964 and then graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1967.

He and the former Beatrice “Bea” Bennett were united in marriage on April 8, 1967, at the Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka, Kansas.

Bill worked for 30 years for the U.S. Government Department of Agriculture. After retirement from the government, he worked for ten years for Valley Hope, Atchison, Kansas. He also managed farms in the Marshall County and Stafford County, Kansas areas.

In 1979, he was awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities Grant “Federalism in Perspective” at the University of California, San Diego.

His memberships included the St. Benedict Parish in Atchison, KS, the Knights of Columbus Fitzgerald Council #1144 in Lillis, KS, and the Fleming-Jackson Seever Post #6 of the American Legion, and was Commander in 1975. He was one of the early members of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and the Religious Life Institute of the Catholic Church. Since his college days he has been an oblate of St. Benedict’s Abbey and continued to stay active in all Benedictine College Alumni activities.

Bill’s great grandparents were all Irish immigrants and he had a great affection for all things Irish, including Irish culture and faith. He had a great interest in genealogy; his knowledge of historical events, particularly church history, was sought by many.

Survivors include his wife, Beatrice “Bea” Brady, of the couple’s home in Atchison, KS, one son, COL (USMC) Richard (Jeanne) Brady, Falls Church, VA, two daughters, Anne (Charles) Feise, St. Louis, MO, Carole (Jeremy) Stempien, Scotch Plains, NJ, a sister, Mary (Charles) Bennett, Springfield, VA, six grandchildren, Katherine Brady, Jack Feise, Will Feise, Grace Feise, Bridget Stempien, Julia Stempien and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen Brady.