William Carl Wisener

William Carl Wisener, of Monticello, Arkansas, formerly of Warren, Arkansas, passed away at John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado, Arkansas, on Tuesday, September 1.

He was born on October 11, 1948, in Warren, Arkansas to the late William Kay and Dorothy Peebles Wisener. He was also predeceased by an infant son, William Matthew Wisener.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Mary Jo Reaves Wisener; a son, Sam Wisener and wife Jenny, of Benton, Arkansas; a daughter, Kate Lightfoot and husband Ronny, of Houston, Texas; brother Neil Wisener and wife Karyn of Hot Springs, Arkansas; sisters Lynn Jones and husband Danny of Wimberley, Texas, and Ruth Ann Wisener and husband Don Harvell of Whitefish, Montana; and a brother-in-law John Barry Reaves and wife Cindy of Montgomery, Texas.  Also surviving are five grandchildren, Ally Swartz, Will Swartz, Braydon Wisener, Izzy Wisener, and Gavin Lightfoot. Additional survivors include a niece Kay Jones, and nephews Mike Jones, Jordan Wisener, Jarrod Wisener, Barry Reaves and Carson Reaves.

Bill was a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the SMU Swigsbie School of Banking.  After playing basketball for the Warren Lumberjacks and the University of Arkansas at Monticello Weevils, Bill built a career in banking, both at Warren Bank and Trust in Warren and at Simmons Bank in Monticello.  But his real calling was building and maintaining relationships with thousands of people across south Arkansas, each of whom believed he or she was Bill’s best friend.

A lifelong-Methodist, Bill was a member of First United Methodist Church in Monticello.  Bill believed in serving others.  He did this by working in the Feed Our Neighbors program, by leading classes at the local church,  and by serving in a variety of leadership positions both locally and at the level of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he most recently had served as chair of the Committee on Finance and Administration.

Bill’s community service included positions on the boards of Warren YMCA, Warren Water Commission, and UAM Foundation.

Bill also worked to build community. He was a web-weaver, constantly reaching out and connecting people together in his communities of family, church, the river crew at Pine Prairie, bank employees and customers, and his hunting and fishing communities. His favorite activities were crappie fishing and watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball.

Graveside services were held at Oakland Cemetery in Warren, Arkansas, on Saturday, September 5, at 9:00 A.M.  Officiants were Rev. Lori Fallon and Rev. Dr. Hammett Evans.  

Pall bearers were Robert Johnson, William Miller, John Cuthbertson, Jordan Wisener, Jay Wisener, and Jeff Wisener.

Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church of Monticello, 317 South Main, Monticello, Arkansas 71655 or First United Methodist Church of Warren, 111 West Church, Warren, Arkansas, 71671.