Dr. William Reece "Bill" Lance

On June 29th, 2024, William “Bill” Reece Lance ended his earthly journey and began a heavenly one. He passed nine days before his 83rd birthday, in Casper, Wyoming. Bill was born July 8, 1941 in Effingham, Illinois to Reece and Jessie Lance. Bill spent his childhood and adolescent years in Williams Camp in Fayette County, Illinois, one of the last of the old oil camps. After graduating high school at 16, Bill attended Eastern Illinois University for a couple years, then earned his DVM at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in 1965. In the last semester of vet school, he accepted a commission as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a master’s degree in 1971 and a PhD in veterinary pathology in 1980, both at Colorado State University (CSU).

Bill’s passion for animal health and care was evident throughout his lifetime. During his early years, Bill practiced as a veterinarian both during and after his service in the Air Force. His interests included the care and treatment of disease in all animals, the development of more effective anesthetics for immobilizations of large animal and wildlife species, and the use of controlled release substances for the dosing of certain medications.

During the 1990’s Bill formed several companies, ultimately to become Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. specializing in drugs used in the immobilization of many wildlife species throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa. In 2004 he formed Zoopharm, Inc. which supplied pharmaceutical formulations to nearly all the zoos and animal collections within the United States. His drug preparations were vital to the veterinary community.

In his pursuit of more effective and compassionate drug dosing, Bill collaborated with partners in 2008 to form SR Veterinary Technologies, Inc. This business was used to develop a polymeric controlled release technology primarily used for pain control in domestic species such as dogs and cats. It allowed veterinarians to dose animals less frequently with a more effective and longer duration of pain control.

Bill was a pioneer in his trade and his many contributions to veterinary medicine will be forever remembered by his colleagues and peers.

Bill is survived by the love of his life, Sharon Crain. They met on a blind date in his last year of vet school and were married several months later, as Bill was being assigned to Japan by the Air Force. They were together for 59 years and just as in love the day Bill passed away. They had two children, Dawn Kreikemeier (Dean) and John Lance (Kimberly). He is also survived by four grandchildren, Kolby Smith (Mariah), Jaime Kreikemeier, Teegan Hand (Hadley), William Lance and three great grandchildren, Kaiden, Brooke and Maddie Smith. Twin great grandchildren are due in December. He will be dearly missed by his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Reece and Jessie Lance, his siblings Don Lance, Wanda Pridmore, and Helen Yancey.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. at Three Crowns Golf Club (1601 King Blvd) in Casper, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Casper Alliance Church in Casper, Wyoming at www.casperchurch.com.

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