William G. Hartig, Jr.

William G. Hartig, a beloved member of the Wichita community, passed away on St. Patrick’s Day, 2025. Born on May 5, 1954, to William and Dorothy Hartig in Syracuse, NY, Bill was a cherished figure in the lives of his family and friends. Bill leaves behind his life partner and sometimes his partner-in-crime, Alexandra Noneofyourdambusiness (aka Alex or Aunt Lexi), who’s probably dancing or racing as you read this. He is also survived by his brothers, Bob, Rich, and Jim (Nadine); his sisters-in-law Lori, Robyn, and Nadine; as well as his beloved nieces and nephews, Katie (Bobby), Aaron (Keri), Emily, Jordan (Kristie), Sean, Lauren (Tom), William, Cyrus, and Isa; and grandnieces and grandnephews, Sam, Henry, Peyton, Riley, Odessa, Everett, Sage, and Christian. Known affectionately as Uncle Hippy by some, Santa Claus by others, simply Uncle Bill or Coach, he was a loyal and devoted partner to Alexandra, who was the love of his life. He may not have been adored by all, but his kindness was felt by everyone, and those who knew him cherished him deeply. He spent his childhood getting into mischief with his brothers Bob and Rich. Bill was 15 when his brother Jim was born, and Jim credits Bill with playing a major role in shaping the person he is today. His sisters-in-law were endeared to him and grateful for his unwavering love for their children. He knew it would all be okay, even when it felt the hardest, often reminding his brothers and sisters-in-law, "Kids will be kids, and we’ve got great freakin’ kids." For Bill’s “kids”, he was an animal lover. During his life, he rescued several cats over the years, nearly always having “a primary and a backup cat”. Bill loved his nieces and nephews fiercely and unconditionally, was infinitely proud of them, and was their steadfast champion. Although Bill had made peace with this final chapter of life (often reminding us all that he was next to go), he was only sad to not get to see how it all unfolded for his nieces and nephews. Bill dedicated many years of his life to Boeing/Spirit aerospace manufacturing, where he worked diligently until his retirement in 2016, lastly in IT supporting his beloved customers. His strong work ethic and attention to detail earned him respect in the industry. He was also a fierce advocate for workers' rights, famously pushing for unionization at the turn of the century in response to arbitrary management actions. Many owe him thanks for his relentless advocacy and willingness to stand up to a bully. Bill liked to be in charge-he even wrote half of this obituary for himself, as he loved to write. Outside of work, Bill had a passion for political discourse, often challenging conservative opinions with his signature question: "WTF are you thinking?!" His sharp wit and unapologetic honesty made him a memorable and sometimes controversial figure in online discussions. At his core, he believed in taking care of his fellow humankind, his friends, peers, community and government causes. A lifelong admirer of counterculture movements, he gravitated toward ideas and communities that pushed boundaries and questioned the status quo. Bill had a love of the arts. He supported the local and regional artists, such as “The Famous Dead Artists” and monthly art gatherings. He had a passion for graphic novels and the offspring art that they inspired, attending several national events and becoming a welcomed VIP fan with the artists and writers. Bill was also passionate about playing and coaching softball, where he often served as both a coach and a trusted mentor to friends seeking guidance. For him, the game was never just about competition-it was about camaraderie, laughter, and the joy of being on the field with people he cared about. He imposed sharp rules in his 25 years of coaching like “No injuries. And It’s just a silly game.” Each year he created the team’s music setlist, another passion, which always included “Mambo Time!” where the entire team would break into dance much to the dismay of their opponent. Bill’s life was cut short by an infection that quickly moved through his body. He often said he did not fear death, but rather the pain of death, and we are grateful to his doctors and nurses at Wesley Medical Hospital for managing his pain in the last three weeks. His infectious sense of humor and love for making others smile, even in the toughest times, will be remembered by all who knew him. Bill Hartig will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of hard work, honesty, and humor will continue to inspire those fortunate enough to call him a friend. Those of us who called him family were the absolute luckiest. Celebration of Life will be at 6:00 pm, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at The Loft (upstairs at River City Brewery, 150 N. Mosley St., Wichita, KS 67202). In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: Kansas Humane Society, Humane Society of the United States, and Wichita Animal Action League. Arrangements in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.