William John Floryanhcic
Marriages
Lillian Ruth Jenkins - 1941
First wife - She passed 1989
Lucille Phillips Hampton - December 12, 1992
Second wife, she passed in 2015
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 7A - July 31, 2022
William John Floryancic
was born in Salida,
Colorado, on March 9,
1918, to Louis and Anna
Floryancic. At the age of
two, his family moved to
Hiawatha, Utah, and in
1922 the family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado,
and lived on a farm in Fruitvale. He attended Fruitvale
School from first through twelfth grades, graduating in
1936.
In 1941, William married Lillian Ruth Jenkins and
they lived in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he worked
in a coal mine for two years. They had two children,
Paul William and Karen Lynn.
In 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served three
years, two of which were in New Guinea in the 535th
Quartermasters Salvage and Repair Company in the
Pacific Theater. William worked at Bancroft Grocery in
Palisade for several years. He had two service stations
in Grand Junction from 1952 until 1958. In 1958, he and
Lillian bought the Bancroft business and opened Bill’s
AG Market and Family Center. Later, their daughter,
Karen, joined in the venture.
William was a board member of the Mesa County
Valley School District #51 from 1963-69, serving two of
those years as Board President. He was on the board of
directors of Associated Grocers of Colorado in Denver
for ten years, four years as Treasurer of the Board,
and on the board of directors of Affiliated Trading in
Denver for nine years.
Since 1959, William was actively involved in the
Palisade community as a member of the Palisade
Chamber of Commerce, and served twice as President.
He was a member of the Palisade American Legion
Post #50 since 1950. He was involved in the Palisade
Lions Club, of which he was a member since 1960. He
was very active in all aspects of Lionism in the Palisade
Club. He served as President twice, was Lion of the Year
three times, and received the highest award in Lionism,
the Melvin Jones Award, along with the Colorado
Lions Foundation Humanitarian Award, and the Ann
Sullivan Award twice. There were many other projects
in Palisade he was involved in. With his grandson,
Kirk Bunte, he made a DVD on the 100-year history of
Palisade about 2004, followed by a second version that
was more detailed. William also had the distinct honor
of being a member of the first Western Slope Honor
Flight to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
He, Lillian, and Karen sold the grocery business in
1987, after which he spent time volunteering around
the community. Sadly, Lillian passed away in 1989. On
December 12, 1992, William married Lucille Phillips
Hampton, and she preceded him in death in 2015.
William is survived by his daughter, Karen (Russell)
Bell of Palisade; grandson, W. Kirk (Cyndy) Bunte of
Palisade; great-grandson, Callahan Stewart of Chester
Springs, Pennsylvania; granddaughter, Megan August
of Carson, California; stepdaughters, Marie (Roger)
Granat of Palisade, Margie (Jim) Beougher of Clifton,
their daughter, Karie Beougher of Cortez, and her
children, Colton Beougher of Salida, and Cadence and
Kason Bradshaw, both of Cortez, Margie and Jim’s
daughter, Jamie (Ernie) Caldwell, and their children,
Bryce and Ryder Caldwell, all of Grand Junction,
and Marie’s daughter, Shawnie (Jay) Laughlin, and
their daughter, Violet Laughlin, all of Estero, Florida;
his daughter-in-law, Terry Palmer August of Carson,
California; sister, Betty Orlando of New Lenox, Illinois;
and brother, Harold Floryancic of Albuquerque, New
Mexico. He was preceded in death by his parents; two
brothers; two sisters; and his son, Paul.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August
2, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Martin Mortuary. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions may be made in
William’s name to the VA Community Living Center,
Attn: Voluntary Services, 2121 North Avenue, Grand
Junction, Colorado 81501; or to HopeWest Hospice,
3090 N. 12th Street, Unit B, Grand Junction, Colorado
81506. The family would like to say a heartfelt thank
you to both organizations for their loving care.
