Contributions to the tribute of William T. Kaplan

K

Kenneth and Diana Laptook planted 10 trees in memory of William Kaplan

Monday, May 18, 2026

10 trees were planted in memory of
William T. Kaplan

In loving memory of Will Kaplan. A true gentleman and a welcome member of our family. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree

J

Jonathan Kaplan posted a condolence

Friday, May 22, 2026

sharing my eulogy of my Dad... My Dad played many roles in life – often exemplified by what people called him. In Judaism, the point of a eulogy is to praise a person’s life and express our collective grief for the loss of that person. Jewish tradition requires us to be balanced and appropriate, to be objecitve because that will reveal a person’s true virtues. Today, we are doing that for William T. Kaplan – or Willie, Butch, Will, Uncle Billy, Bill, Mr. Kaplan, Dad, and Grandpa Will. I’m going to add one more. When my wife, Allison, asked him what she should call him, he said he had no preference. She said fine, I’m going to call you Bill SLASH Will. The scope of my Dad’s life is remarkable. He was born 18 months before the United States entered World War II. His father, Mickey, was either drafted into or joined the Navy. He grew up without a father for the first three years of his life. My Dad was very much part of the “Silent Generation” of kids coming of age in the 1940s and 50s. Growing up, Willie played baseball in the street and the parks, delivered newspapers, and sold ads for the high school student newspaper. Next to his photo in Senn High School’s yearbook, Willie said he wanted to be a “successful businessman.” He worked hard as he would do throughout his life; and he had very high standards for himself at work and on the tennis court. When Rabbi Serle asked us whether my Dad had any hobbies, we were a bit stumped after tennis. But Mickey, my grandfather, worked in the parking garage business and my Dad would park cars during the summers to earn money. Parking cars, for my Dad, wasn’t just a job, it was sport. If you ever drove past 340 Rebecca, the cars were always parked facing forward. He would start from the top of the cul-de-sac, throw the car into reverse, rev the engine, and speed backwards into our garage. He always did it perfectly. My Dad also liked cars for both their looks and practicality… After business school, he drove a blue MG and would show it off when picking up his niece and nephew at school. Parking cars might have given him spending money at Grinnell College, but it also opened up a wider world. After Grinnell, he received an MBA at NYU, and, then, he went to law school at Washington University in St. Louis – where he met our Mom, who called him Will. Will was a serious guy, part of that generation of men who wore sports jackets in the dining hall and to class. My Dad always dressed well, Brooks Brothers and Burberry, Edmund Allen shoes and Ferragamo ties. Even late in life, it was odd FOR ME to see my Dad in anything other than a jacket and tie. In the sweltering summer in St. Louis in 1967, he studied for and passed the bar exam. Two years later, he and my Mom married and moved to Joliet where he joined the law firm of Thomas Wallace Feehan Baron and, later, Kaplan. Bill or Mr. Kaplan, as he was professionally known, loved the law and his clients – and his clients respected and even loved him. Don’t take my word for it. Steve Cowan, a longtime client, wrote that, “I am almost 70 and I always called him Mr. Kaplan out of the utmost respect. Mr. Kaplan was our corporate and personal attorney. He was one of a kind. My wife and I loved watching his seasonal progression of hats.” He went on to write, “There was nothing we entered into for over 40 years that his eyes, expertise, and communication skills always factored into. We trusted him and he never let us down.” My Dad prided himself on being a contrarian. He loved new ideas and respected outsiders as much as he loved and respected Roger Federer’s one-handed backhand. Reid had a school project where he asked his grandparents about some life lessons. My Dad wrote, “Something else I learned is not always to go along with what the majority are thinking or doing. Sometimes it is wise and pays dividends (look this word up in the dictionary) to be a contrarian (look this word up in the dictionary)... think for yourself, research the subject before you reach any conclusion, and if you believe you are correct on a subject matter, stand your ground until proven wrong, or others agree with your position.” There is a running joke in our family that when it came to parenting my Dad preferred to remain on the sidelines. Unfortunately, there is truth to that. My Mom was our most vocal and biggest cheerleader. Not that my Dad wasn’t. He just never really said as much. When he would come to swim meets, he would sit in a corner, open his briefcase, dig out some big orange highlighters, and dive into those yellow West Law case books. Maybe he was ahead of his time. The anti-helicopter parent; the first free-range parent. Unconventional, to be sure, but maybe today’s parents can learn from Bill Kaplan. Many of you have told me over the years that my Dad never gave much away about himself but would ask you question after question about your lives and your businesses. But over the years he changed – especially once the grandchildren arrived. As board president of the synagogue, his written monthly updates laid bare all of the discussions and disagreements the board was having. The updates were informative, insightful, and even funny. He revealed so much of himself in those updates, perhaps more than he knew. And my Dad, as Grandpa Will, was somebody else entirely. Reid asked another question for his project: “Who are you most proud of?” “You can look inside your house… I am most proud of your dad and his brothers…” Bill / Will was really fond of his daughters-in-law. “I am also proud of… Your mom, Aunt Alexandra (Zandy) and Aunt Jenny. They are intelligent, hard-working women who are balancing the needs of family together with their work life.” Grandpa Will always wanted the play-by-play and color commentary of the lives of his grandchildren, Benjamin, Reid, Harper, and Everette. He wanted you to live your best lives – and to look good while doing it. That’s why every birthday there was a big box of clothes that showed up at your house – picked out with Lisa’s keen eye. My Dad was generous with his time and advice for people building businesses, protecting their families, and otherwise trying to do good in the world. So I’m going to let him – and whomever he was to you – have the last word. I’ll translate as needed. A decade ago, my Dad received news about his health that scared the hell out of him because he wrote the three of us an email that first set forth the facts of the case and then turned surprisingly reflective. “I’m not certain what else there is to tell you. I have seen this play out hundreds of times with clients, and we will all have to wait this out. I have had time to think, especially at night, when my nerves were jangling and I could not sleep. I’ve tried to concentrate on narrow areas given my specialty and profession… I am one of the luckiest people alive.” (Translation: I have three wonderful sons, three wonderful daughters-in-law, and four wonderful grandchildren.) “I could have done a lot more, but I really didn’t want to travel… but did see parts of America while you were growing up… and Mom had wanderlust, so I saw parts of the world that she wanted to see but to which I didn’t object…” (Translation: my wife dragged me around the world and I complained endlessly about it, but secretly liked it.) I do wish that I could have developed into a better tennis player but now my physical limitations prevent that from ever happening. (Translation: Get your racket back, move your feet, hit under the ball!) “So, I have no complaints. I have done what I wanted to do. The greatest luck that I had was surrounding myself with two very smart women who helped me down a path that I am not sorry for traveling.” (Translation: Thank you mom and thank you Lisa.) “So, let’s not all wear your hearts on your sleeves. Time and nature will take its course….” “I have debated informing you of this present situation, as you all have your lives, which pull you in different directions at different times.” “This is just another worry that I don’t think you need at this time, but I really could not withstand the rants and raves you would have all heaped upon me if you were not informed.” Translation: Stop the crying, get back to work, and go live your lives. Dad, we hear you and we will miss you.

J

Judy Block posted a condolence

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Please accept our condolences, Bill was a good man, hard working, and dedicated to those he loved and what he believed in. He will be remembered for that, his sense of humor, and his generosity of wisdom and time spent on charitable causes. Our sympathies, Mike and Judy Block

A

Aaron and Eileen Kozlowski posted a condolence

Monday, May 18, 2026

Dear Jonathan, Justin and Jordan, So very sorry for your family’s loss. We are praying for you all. We will be honored to make a donation toward your sister’s scholarship fund.

S

Steve Cowan posted a condolence

Sunday, May 17, 2026

For starters I am almost 70 years old and I always called him “Mr Kaplan” out of the utmost respect. Mr Kaplan was our corporate attorney as well as our personal. He was one of a kind. My wife and I loved watching for his seasonal progression of hats. Mr Kaplan helped us adopt 2 children who are 21 and 19. There was nothing we entered into for over 40 years that his eyes, expertise and communication skills always factored into. We trusted him and he never let us down. Obviously we loved him. He will be so dearly missed. RIP counselor. You were the best of the best. Steve and Terri

A Memorial Tree was planted for William Kaplan

Sunday, May 17, 2026

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Fred C. Dames Funeral Homes - Joliet Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree

O

The family of William T. Kaplan uploaded a photo

Sunday, May 17, 2026

William T. Kaplan

1940 - 2026

Plant a tree in memory of William