In Loving Memory of William “Bill” Joseph Kornele

Bill (William Joseph) Kornele peacefully went to his heavenly home on June 28, 2024, at BSA Hospital in Amarillo, Texas.

Celebration of Life Services will be held Saturday, July 20th at 2:00 PM at the Clayton Methodist Church in Clayton with Rev. Billy Rammage, officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton, New Mexico.

Bill was born April 11, 1926, near Freedom, OK to Ernest Elmer and Grace Mabel (Hayes) Kornele.  He was raised on the family ranch near Freedom.  He was drafted into the Army in 1942.  He served in the 13th Field Artillery and began his service in the Philippines, and then went into Hiroshima, Japan occupation after World War II ended.  He was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Sam Houston in August 1944. After he got home from the service, he made a trip to Clayton, NM to visit his Uncle, and found a job cutting broom corn.  One Saturday night he attended a dance in Texline where he met Geneive Lawrence.  Bill and Geneive were married on September 23, 1948. In 1950 they made the decision to move to Sun Valley, California near Los Angeles for better work opportunities.  It was there that all four of their children were born.  Bill worked for a construction company and later was employed by Jessup Dairies.  Over time Geneive became homesick and missed Clayton, and they felt that Clayton was a better place to raise their family, so in 1967 they moved Home.  After Moving back to Clayton, he went to refrigeration school in Oklahoma City and completed the course in 1969.  He and Geneive also built and operated a Dairy until 1973.  Upon selling the dairy Bill went to work for Roy Pogue Wholesale delivering gasoline and doing refrigeration work on the side until a job opportunity became available at the Gas Company of New Mexico in 1974.  He began as a service technician and advanced to the position of General Manager.  He remained in that position until he retired in 1991.  After retirement, Bill continued his favorite and expensive hobby of running cattle, but that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, so he began doing loan inspections for the First National Bank.  He enjoyed doing that for approximately 15 years. Bill worked hard to provide for his family and always put his Family’s needs above his own.  Even after his children were well into adulthood, he made decisions based on “what was best for the Family”. Several times when questioned why he made a particular decision his answer was “It might help the kids someday”. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Elmer and Grace Mabel Kornele; by his wife Geneive Kornele; by 5 brothers, Dick (Ernest Elmer) Kornele; Abby (Eddie Elvis) Kornele; Joe (Joe Ellis) Kornele, Cowboy (Robert Raymond) Kornele; and Tanny (James Nelson) Kornele; One Sister, Ruth (Ruth Evylene) Wood; A young Son, Gary Kornele; and One Infant Grandson, Jim Ed Atkins.

SURVIVORS:

He is survived by 3 children; Connie Atkins and husband James of Clayton, NM; Larry Kornele and wife Cindy of Aurora, CO; Barbara Dixon and husband Jess of Boise City, OK; and 2 Grandchildren who were his Pride and Joy, Kyle Kornele and Kaitlyn Kornele.