William P. “Bill” McKenna, 79, of Festus died June 27, 2026, after a yearslong battle with pancreatic cancer. Mr. McKenna was born into a family of 10. He graduated from St. Louis University High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from Southeast Missouri State University. He was a Democrat, a former state senator and longtime Jefferson County advocate. He was elected to represent the 102nd District in the Missouri House for six terms, from 1983-1993. He represented the 22nd District in the Missouri Senate from 1993-1999, also serving as president pro tem in 1997 during the 89th General Assembly. Following his time in the Senate, he served as Jefferson College’s president in the early 2000s, also serving on the board for the Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City, and later sitting on the board for Mercy, after the hospital transitioned to Mercy Jefferson in 2013. He formed a citizen action group called the Coalition for Highway Safety, established to improve safety on Jefferson County roads. He was also a founder of the Jefferson County Growth and Development Association. He was proud of his job delivering Meals on Wheels for nearly two decades in the Festus-Crystal City area with his wife. He was strong in his faith and dedicated himself to helping those around him. He was known for his integrity, kindness, generosity, humility and compassion. He loved sharing stories, making memories and spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren who called him “Shoosh.” Born Aug. 29, 1946, in St. Louis, he was the son of J. Glennon and Mary McKenna and Virginia McKenna.
He is survived by his wife: Debbie McKenna; five children: Lisa (Glen) Hausler, Ryan (Nikki) McKenna, Jen (Ryan) Wieser, Janine (Chris) Hueter and Joe Bell; 10 grandchildren: Glennon, Kellan, Sophie, Will, Jonas, Ana, Brody, Valerie, Madi and Olivia; a great-grandchild: Marshall; and many siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by two brothers: Timothy McKenna and Brian McKenna.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, July 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 555 Bailey Road, in Crystal City. A reception will follow at The Marquee on Main, 516 Bailey Road, in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the Caritas House of Festus at Catholic Charities Housing, PO Box 952393, St. Louis, 63195-2393, or at give.ccstl.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.