Kenneth Gordon Willas

Male 1934 - 2022  (88 years)


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  • Name Kenneth Gordon Willas 
    Born 18 Jul 1934  Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 20 Oct 2022  Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I9620  Cody LeBlanc's Family Tree
    Last Modified 22 Dec 2022 

    Family Janet Marie Niederkorn,   b. 4 Aug 1938, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Sep 2009, Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married 7 Sep 1957  Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. C.A. Willas
    +2. M.P. Willas
    +3. S.R. Willas
    +4. J.L. Willas
    +5. John Joseph Willas,   b. 29 Apr 1970, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jul 2011, Surprise, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)
    Last Modified 22 Dec 2022 
    Family ID F4242  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 18 Jul 1934 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 7 Sep 1957 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 20 Oct 2022 - Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Kenneth Gordon Willas
    Kenneth Gordon Willas
    Obituary picture

  • Notes 
    • Obituary:

      Kenneth Gordon Willas, 87, of Dunedin, Florida, passed away on October 20, 2022 following a short illness after suffering a stroke in August.

      Ken was born July 18, 1935, and grew up in Elmwood Park, Illinois. He also lived in Wood Dale, Illinois, and Roselle, Illinois, before eventually relocating to Dunedin, Florida after retirement. He attended Lane Tech College Prep School in Chicago, Illinois, and worked his entire life as a mechanic, first on automobiles and then forklift trucks. He met the love of his life, Janet "Jaye" Willas (nee Niederkorn) when she was his dance instructor. Ken and Jaye were married in 1957 and they spent 52 years working together as they built their family welcoming 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren until Jaye's unexpecting passing in 2009. He was a practical joker, a cookie monster, and a big kid at heart. His favorite hobbies were collecting and shooting guns, drinking and playing games at the bars, playing poker, watching old movies, or watching Yellowstone. He has gone to be with Jaye, and he will be missed by family, friends and neighbors.

      Ken is predeceased by parents, Albert & Ganna Willas, his wife, Janet Willas (nee Niederkorn) and his son, John Willas.

      Left to cherish his memory are: his sister, Carole Kervin (nee Willas) & her husband Michael; his daughter, Christine Abbinanti (nee Simi) & her husband Giuseppe, together with their children, Michelle Anderson (nee Simi) & her husband John "Bill", Jason P. Simi, Pete Abbinanti & his wife Alison (nee Murphy), and Steven Abbinanti & his wife Carolina (nee Sati), and their grandchildren, Jack Anderson, Jason L. Simi, Jorie Anderson, Julienne Abbinanti, Payton Anderson, and Amaya Abbinanti; his son, Michael Willas, together with his sons, Nicholas Willas, and Lucas Willas & his wife Hannah (nee Thompson), and his grandchildren, Benjamin Willas, Jessica Willas and Ellie Willas; his son, Scott Willas & his wife Jeannie (nee Heckinger), together with their son, Jeffery Willas; his daughter, Joanne Willas, together with her daughter, Jennifer Willas and her granddaughter, Ruby Willas-Dubuc; and his daughter-in-law, Kelly Willas (nee Branon), together with her children, Joshua Willas, Zachary Willas, Jared Willas and Olivia Willas; along with uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins and many close friends who were like family to him.

      (Published by Legacy Remembers from October 23 to October 24, 2022)