Ernest William (Bill) Johnmeyer took flight on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 5:25 AM with his loving wife Jane Ann Johnmeyer by his side. Preceding him in death were his parents Ernest and Ruth and half-brother Edward Lee Johnmeyer.

Bill was born in a farm house in Howard County, MO on December 29, 1933 to Ernest William Jacob Johnmeyer and Edna Ruth (Ray) Johnmeyer. He went to live with his grandparents (Earl H. and Willie Ray) at the age of 3. He attended a one room country school (Central Hill) to 8th grade. He then moved to Kansas City to live with his mother and attended Central High School, where he graduated in 1951. In the summers he would go back to Fayette, MO to help his grandparents on the farm. After graduating High School in Kansas City, he stayed there to go to Junior College. In 1953, he went in to the Air Force Lowry Field in Denver, CO to join the Aviation Cadets. He was in the Air Force from 1953 - 1956. When the Air Force was no longer accepting pilots for flight training, he joined the Army and was on active duty from January 1956 to November 1957 and the Reserves from 1957 to 1960 to fulfill the rest of his military commitment. He served active duty in Germany.

Bill worked at Hallmark Cards, B.O.P. (Buick Old Pontiac) and as a journeyman meat cutter at Milgram's. He got his pilot's license at Municipal Airport in Kansas City in 1957 and was a Field Engineer at Burrough's Corporation for 28 years. He was transferred to Springfield, MO with Burroughs in 1961, where he continued work and pursing his passion for flying in his spare time. In 1968, Bill became the pilot for Jack and Harry Cooper, then in 1979 he became a Manager/Vice President and Chief Pilot for Springfield Flying Service at the Downtown Airport (3DW) owned by the Cooper family. Bill worked for them for 34 years, when he retired in 2013 at the age of 80.

Bill flew 56 different aircraft over 50 plus years of flying. He was awarded Master Pilot for 50 years of flying with no accidents. He held ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) rating and was typed single pilot for the Citation Jet. Bill was a FAA check pilot, Tenshi Budokan Black Belt, member Grand Lodge of Missouri Gate of the Temple No 422 and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Valley of Joplin Mason for over 60 years. Bill was also a member of the National Corvette Museum, AOPA and EPA for over 49 years, Quite Birdman, founding member of the Golden Eagles, a certified deep-sea diver, honorary Tail Hooker on USS Lexington and NRA Endowment member. He was a faithful member of the Sunset Church of Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Ann Johnmeyer; son, Jeff Johnmeyer and wife Barb; daughter, Jana Gibson; granddaughter Amanda Higbee and husband Robert; grandson Ian Johnmeyer; grandson Zach Omans and wife Elizabeth; grandson, Aaron Johnmeyer; great grandson, Gunner Medlock; great granddaughter Hailey; great grandson Clark Omans and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Memorial Service will be Wednesday, July 8 at 11:00 AM at Sunset Church of Christ. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at 2:00 PM in Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Fair Haven Children's Home, 3132 N Fairhaven Loop, Strafford, MO 65757. 

Many thanks to his oncologist, Dr. Din and Dr. Trinca and especially to Seasons Hospice for their care and support of Bill and family in his last weeks.