William John (Bill) Meyer Jr.

1929 - 2016

William (Bill) John Meyer, Jr. (Moose) 1929 - 2016
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - William (Bill) John Meyer, Jr. (Moose), 86, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, formerly of Taylorville, IL, passed away on August 20, 2016.
Bill was born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, IL and grew up in Berwyn, IL. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951 and received his law degree in 1953 from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Upon passing the Bar Exam in 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Legal Officer, and was sent to Boston, MA. One of the first people he met was one of his legal secretaries and future wife, Joan Curtis Hersey of Milton, MA. They were married in 1954, and soon after, Bill was transferred to San Diego, CA.
After his Honorable Discharge in 1956, Bill and Joan settled in Lombard, IL, where he was a legal professional with Chicago Title & Trust. In 1957, the family, now with two sons, moved to Taylorville, IL where he established a new practice, first with Hershey & Bliss, and later with Clark H. Miley. He also worked as a Trust Officer at First Trust & Savings Bank, where he later became a Director. Throughout the years the law firm moved locations, partners and names, but still remains in Taylorville as Meyer, Austin, & Romano. He retired in 2003, after celebrating 50 years with the American Bar Association, and in 2010, he and Joan moved full-time to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Bill is survived by his wife, Joan, of Taylorville, and three children: William J. Meyer III (Diana) of Monett, MO, Steven E. Meyer (Lisa) of Dallas, TX, and Alison B. (Stephen) Cappellin of Springfield, IL, and their children: Harriett Gayle Meyer of Monett, MO, Scott Evan Meyer of College Station, TX, Stephen Anthony (Tony) Cappellin of Manhattan, KS, and Catherine Brooks Cappellin of Blacksburg, VA. Bill is also survived by a brother, Charles F. Meyer of Brookfield, WI, a sister, Mary Lou Meyer, of Jefferson, WI, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bill's remains were cremated and will be interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville, IL at a later date.
A Memorial Service and Mass will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 28, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Taylorville, IL.
A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the Mass at Angelo's Pizza, Taylorville, IL until 5:00 P.M. All friends and former colleagues are invited to attend either or both celebrations.
Condolences to his family may be left at www.perfettifuneralhome.com.
Shafer-Perfetti Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Taylorville is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations:
Insight for the Blind
1401 NE 4th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Taylorville Public Library
121 West Vine Street
Taylorville, IL 62568
Animal Protective League
1001 Taintor Road
Springfield, IL 62702