Edward W. (Bill) Kornkven

Edward W. (Bill) Kornkven passed away at his home in Casper on April 8, 2023 at the age of 90.  Bill had no siblings and was preceded in death by his parents, one son Eric, and a granddaughter Elsa Berri. He is survived by his wife, four children: Edward (Liz), Kristin (Tim) Graham, Kurt (Susie), and John (Kilty Brown), 18 grandchildren: Anne, Katrin, Elle (Nick) Perna, Anders, Brian Graham, Christian, Sarah (Kevin) Crank, Cody, Kelly (Dean) Scott, Ryer, Justus, Amanda, Jacob Brown, Ella-Berri, Trinity Godwin, Talia, Emily Brown, Joel, and one great-grandson, Colby.

Bill was born in Bottineau, N.D. in 1932 to Edward and Emma Kornkven. His family moved from North Dakota to Minneapolis, Minn. where he graduated from Central High School. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota and Colorado College. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Bill moved to Montana, then to Wyoming where he enjoyed the mountains and open spaces of his state.

He met his wife Aura Mae Bosch in Worland, Wyo., and they married in 1957. Bill loved his occupation in sales, starting with the Gamble’s stores where he worked in Worland and Greybull. In 1968, he moved with his family to Casper. He worked at Northern Utilities before launching several small businesses in Casper and the wider region. He operated an outfitting business in the Dubois area before taking up the real estate profession, the career he enjoyed for the remainder of his life. He specialized in farm, ranch, and commercial properties.

Bill was a loving husband and devoted father to his five children. His other passions were youth sports and seeing the message of God’s love in Jesus Christ brought to others. Bill was part of the founding of youth football in Casper and he was a key force in expanding amateur boxing in Casper and the region. Many young men were coached by Bill at the Casper Boys Club and his teams traveled the state and region, some reaching national-level stature in their sport. Locally, Bill organized the Holiday Festival Boxing Tournament for over a decade. Nationally, he managed national teams in overseas competitions and served on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Committee. In 1973, Bill received the Non-Professional of the Year award at the Casper Sports Award banquet.

He was a strong supporter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth for Christ, and Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, and he was dedicated to his church family at River of Life Church where he served in leadership for many years.

Services for Bill will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. at River of Life Church, 2955 East 2nd Street, Casper. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Casper Youth for Christ or the Casper Boxing Club.