William Paul Kaftan

William Kaftan Obituary

William Paul Kaftan

Hemet, CA - William Paul Kaftan, 71, passed away in his sleep at home in Hemet, CA, on July 21, 2020. Born in Green Bay on February 25, 1949, Bill was the son of Fred F. and Virginia K. Kaftan. His parents both predeceased him, as did a brother, John (Jack) Kaftan and a sister, Patricia (Patty) Wouters, both of Ledgeview. He is survived by two sisters, Mary (Chum) Zellner and her husband Richard, of Evergreen, CO, and Colleen Kaftan, of Cambridge, MA, as well as his daughters, Maria Nevala of Ashland, WI, and Virginia Kaftan of Knoxville, TN. He had three grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 14-month-old Brooklynn Kaftan of Knoxville—the apple of his eye—and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill lived in Riverside, CA, for many years with his then wife, Sandy, his stepchildren, Tanya, Amanda, and Gary, and his daughter, Virginia. He later enjoyed years of companionship with his friend Judy Sellens.

Bill attended Abbott Pennings High and graduated from UWGB with a degree in Regional Analysis. He put this education and multiple other skills to work for the County of Riverside, CA, where he was employed until his retirement.

He always marched to a different drummer. Extremely creative, he was a musician, a songwriter, a videographer, a computer whiz, and an inventor. His dry wit and sardonic jokes endeared him to many, even those who were the occasional targets of his humor.

Bill's musical creations and his charming videos of his daughter Ginny continue to delight anyone who sees them. He will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Green Bay Press-Gazette from Jul. 31 to Aug. 2, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for William Kaftan

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9 Entries

Georgia Kaftan

August 6, 2020

Bill stayed with us for a couple of weeks when he was about 13 when his parents were out of town, I was 17. We went tobogganing at Potawatomi.
The chute was very fast and Bill was behind me with his legs wrapped around me. He slid off the back at some point but kept hanging on. By the time we stopped the seat of his Jeans was gone! Fortunately he wan't hurt and we had a good laugh.
Georgia "jane" Kaftan

Dave & Sandy Valentine

August 3, 2020

MR talented Rythmn and lead guitar player, trumpet player, singer, we will always remember you as part of THE INTENDED . We'll also remember your charm, outgoing personality, that made the girls swoon over you, and made the rest of us pack up the equipment quickly since their boyfriends wanted to beat us all up. Great times, great memories. We will miss you!

Dick Zellner

August 3, 2020

I have had a wide range of experiences with my brother-in-law, Bill Kaftan.

It all started in the late fifties and early sixties when I was courting his sister, Chummy. I was trying to teach him that he didn’t have to fall to the ground every time he caught the football I passed to him.

In the late seventies Bill invented a foot pedal device that would create a dobro or steel guitar effect for a guitar. I remember helping him pitch the idea to the Barcus-Berry company. Bill was very possessive about this device. He didn’t realize how far ahead of the times he really was.

Just a few years ago Bill on guitar, Chummy on electric piano and me on trumpet performed at a famous talent show at Colleen’s Creekside Cottage in New Hampshire. What a kick that was for all of us.

And finally, when Bill would visit us in Evergreen, we would hike the mountain roads near our house and have extended discussions on the meaning of life.

I had a rich relationship with Bill over the fifty-plus years we were encountering each other. I will miss him.

Mary (Chum) Zellner

August 3, 2020

In spite of Bill's many practical jokes, he was a soft-hearted guy who appreciated even the smallest kindness. When he was a boy, he had a paper route. During a major Green Bay blizzard, I helped him deliver his papers. He never forgot it and thanked me often throughout the rest of his life. I will miss you, Bill.

thomas r trumpy

August 3, 2020

Bill was always a practical joker. Once while visiting his parent's cottage on Lee Lake back in our teen days he carved a piece of plywood into a contraption you could stand on while attached to a rope to a boat (kind of an early wake board). They had a small outboard boat and Bill was driving while I was standing on the "thing". He suddenly stood up, faking he was having a health issue, and fell off the boat while it was still running. The boat was still towing me with no driver as I went by Bill in the water and he waived good bye to me. There I was being towed by a boat with no driver. Little did I know he had disconnected the gas line so the boat ran for only another 30 seconds or so. He was laughing so hard he almost drowned.

Colleen Kaftan

August 2, 2020

One of my brother's cool inventions was a sauna, which he created by putting a folding chair atop the furnace (or whatever) in the closet of his rented apartment in Green Bay. I wasn't around to see this genius contraption, but I heard it was pretty amazing.

Mark Simmons

August 2, 2020

Miss Ya Mr Bill! I'll still try to keep an eye on Ginny for you! Go Packers!

Pete schlise

August 1, 2020

Had great memories with bill and jack when we visited him. Especially bills sauna God bless.

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