Dr. William (Bill) Dreese, 98, died in Salina, KS on July 6, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Council Grove, KS, on October 13, 1927, to Evart and Katie (O’Meara) Dreese.
He graduated from Council Grove High School in 1945. After his graduation, Bill served in the U.S. Army as a bandsman in General Patton’s 2nd Armor Division and General Wainright’s 4th Army Headquarters. Following his Army service, he attended the University of Kansas where he graduated with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He later worked in Kansas City, Topeka and Roseburg, Oregon, VA hospitals as a clinical psychologist. In 1963, his interest in community mental health led to his becoming Administrative Director of Emporia’s Regional Mental Health Center. During his tenure in Emporia, he also served on the faculty at Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University, where he taught graduate students focusing on Special Education. He was on Kansas Governor’s Mental Health Advisory Board and helped initiate Emporia’s Head Start program. In 1971, Bill moved to Salina where he became administrator of Central Kansas Mental Health Center. While in Salina, he introduced the Crossroads Program which significantly reduced the time required for hospital treatment of chronic mental illness. He retired in 1988. For many years following his retirement, he was a board member and volunteer at Children’s Home International, a Christian home for children in Reynosa, Mexico.
Bill married Roberta (Bobbie) J. Bohnstedt in Salem, Oregon, on September 19, 1953. They were married for 67 years until Bobbie’s passing in 2020.
He was a member of Salina’s First United Methodist Church, the American and Kansas Psychological Associations, American Legion and past president of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Center Directors. His favorite activities were gardening, raising flowers, playing dominoes, white-water rafting, visiting shut-ins, teaching and family gatherings. He was a strong believer in working towards social justice for all, especially those with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Bobbie; his parents; and a sister, Dorothy Ekart.
He is survived by his son,Ben Dreese; daughters, Jean (Tom) Adamson, and Diane (Dr. Al) Geisen, all of Salina; and daughter, Nancy Lovseth of Pittsburg, KS. There are six grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.
Visitation will be at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 4 to 6 PM.
A Memorial service will be at 10 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026, at First United Methodist Church in Salina.
Interment will be at a later date in Council Grove at Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, Salina Animal Shelter or other organization dedicated to helping animals, Gentiva Hospice and Eaglecrest Retirement Community.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the compassionate and professional care Bill received from Eaglecrest and Gentiva Hospice staff.