WILLIAM “Bill” ZAHN

William “Bill” Zahn, age 61, of Hinsdale, passed away unexpectedly at his home, Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

He was born July 12, 1960, in St. Charles, IL, to loving parents, Donald and Marjorie Zahn.

Bill grew up in the Kaneland communities and attended local schools. He graduated from Kaneland High School with the class of 1978.   He passed all the academic standards but also passed on a myriad of stories and memorable mischief that can’t be remembered without a smile.

Bill worked full time at Monitor Manufacturing while attending Northern Illinois University, and later graduated from Aurora University in 1982.

Bill began a lifelong relationship with insurance and made it his mission to know it inside and out, and top to bottom. He began as underwriter, but rose through the ranks of several insurance agencies, eventually landing at Progressive Insurance where he “retired” in approximately 2018. Since then, Bill continued work as a consultant, helping people and businesses find the peace of mind and protection that insurance could provide. Bill also worked with his hands, working side by side with his dad building local houses, making sure each detail was built better than it had to be and exceeded perfection.

Bill met the love of his life in 1994. He met Jocelyn Ellis when she went out with her girlfriend to play darts at a local pub. When disgusted with the bars “house darts”, Bill was “johnny-on-the-spot” offering his own darts to Jocelyn who gratefully accepted not only the darts, but an offer to take her out as well. Their love grew deeper and stronger, and their bond soon became unbreakable. In earlier years, Bill went on cruises every year with friends, and continued when he met Jocelyn making memories with every nautical mile. Bill was very intelligent, had an incredible gift for numbers, and had the ability to read a room and the people in it. His personable nature made him friends from every walk of life and his witty sense of humor kept them laughing. The echo of his gift of smiles and laughter will ring throughout generations to come.

He is survived by his beloved Jocelyn Ellis; his sister, Darlene DeVoss; nieces and nephews: Derek (Maria) Warne, Andrea Warne and Natalie Warne; many cousins and a lifetime full of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Marjorie Zahn.

Visitation will be from 12-1:30 p.m., Friday, January 28, 2022, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery, Elburn, with a private luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to JDRF, formerly known as The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.