William Van Plew

William Ray Van Plew age 78 of the Tellico Village Community, Loudon, TN passed away on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022.
Bill was a member of The Cruising Club, T-Bart, the Fishing Club, the Illinois Club and the Art Guild.
He grew up in Glen Ellyn, IL and attended Glenbard West. While there he made many friends and was the drummer in a band with three best friends that was very popular called Shakey Drake and the Rhythm Shakers. After high school graduation Bill attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL graduating with a degree in B.A. Art (Printmaking Specialty), and was a member of TKE. One of Bill's original prints was chosen and featured in a gallery show in Washington, D.C. while he was still in college.
Bill served in the United States Army as an SP5 Military Journalist in Vietnam. He loved photography, art, fishing, boating and spending time with his loved ones. He was very charismatic and charming and one of the hardest workers you would ever know.
Bill spent his long career in Development assisting various organizations in causes that helped others.
Father of four and mentor to many, Bill has been described as"One of the Best" when it came to fathers. Bill's children describe him as dapper, steady and true, and as a "git 'er done" kind of guy. He extended this commitment to family and others in all ways. Bill was ready and willing to take on added responsibilities for the good of one or many. He was a Volunteer Coordinator at the People's Resource Center food bank in Wheaton, IL for eleven years after retirement.
In August 2019 Bill moved to Tellico Village, TN in Eastern Tennessee with his fiancee, Beery Kelsey. He spent many hours on the sun porch photographing the birds in the backyard and even sold a print at the last Art Guild Show. Bill developed the pursuit of photography later in life. He had a photo studio at his home in Wheaton, IL. He also has a Flickr account: httpps://www.flickr.com/photos/billvp/
As his daughter Kristen has stated, Bill "became very spiritual following our mother's passing in 2011. He became very interested in mindfulness and meditation as well as other spiritual teachings. He was kind, caring, grounded and generous.
Bill was as preceded in death by: His father, Donald Van Plew; mother, Sylvia Van Plew; older brother, Donald Van Plew, (Hope); wife, Karen Van Plew; and daughter, Juliana Sweet.
He is survived by: his fiancee, Beery Kelsey; Doreen Van Plew, sister; his children, Lisa (Ryan) Van Plew-Cid, Kristen (Scott) Poniatowski, Jonathan Van Plew as well as many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Grandchildren: Alexandria (Sweet) Evans, Brittney Sweet, Julian Van Plew-Cid, Jonathan Van Plew, Jr. (JJ), Vivi Hope Van Plew-Cid, and Samuel Poniatowski.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11am on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Click Funeral Home & Cremations - Tellico Village Chapel with services to follow at 11 a.m. with Lutheran Minister Ingrid Schalk Officiating. Inurnment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America -VVA.org, or American Cancer Society-Cancer.org, In honor of Bill, get your Shingles Vaccine!