William A. (Bill) Kautz

William A. (Bill) Kautz, 100, passed away at home in Tallahassee FL on December 14, 2025. Bill was born at home in 1925 in Rinard IL, a rural community of 120 residents with no running water or electricity. His parents were Richard G. Kautz and Bertha Shehorn Kautz. Most of his early years were spent in Rinard, but during his teen years his family alternated between residing in Rinard and Chicago. He graduated from high school in nearby Flora as that was the nearest town with a high school. Shortly after graduation he played briefly for a minor league baseball team, but that was interrupted when he was drafted into the Marines for duty in World War II. As a Marine, he served in combat in the battle for Iwo Jima and was part of the occupation forces of Nagasaki Japan after the explosion of the atom bomb. Not long after discharge, he met and married Helen Potts of Louisville IL in 1948. They were married for 69 years until her death in 2017. Bill worked as a carpenter in Flora IL, and it was there that their son Randy and daughter Jerilyn were born. In 1963, he moved his family to New Smyrna Beach FL where he worked as a carpenter, furniture salesman, maintenance man, and nursing home administrator. In 1970, he moved to Daytona Beach for several years to assume a position as a nursing home administrator. That was followed by several years of moving around and working in similar positions in Clearwater, Merritt Island, and West Melbourne. He was always a hard worker, and in cities where they lived, he and Helen bought old run-down houses which they remodeled while living in them and then sold them for a handsome profit. In the early 1990s after retirement, he moved back to Ormond Beach to be closer to family. In 2018, after Helen’s passing, he moved into an independent and assisted living facility in Holly Hill. Despite his age, he remained in good health, always claiming to be “disgustingly healthy,” but by early 2024 he decided he had declined enough that it was time to quit driving. By September 2024, the facility where he resided made the decision to no longer offer assisted living as an option. Therefore, he moved into an assisted living facility in Tallahassee where he resided until his death. Bill Kautz always had a smile on his face, was friendly to everyone he met, and is well remembered by all he encountered. In 1963, while searching for a new church home before moving his family to Florida, he visited the First Christian Church in New Smyrna Beach where he met Maitland Knox. The two became and remained best friends, and their families spent many hours together. Following upon his experiences at First Christian, Bill volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder wherever they moved, including Daytona Christian Church, Palm Bay Christian Church, and Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach. He was always highly regarded as a teacher and spiritual leader. Although he claimed that he cannot sing, he often sang along to some favorite songs when he heard them. He especially liked big band, country, and gospel. A favorite song was “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” Favorite artists included Lawrence Welk and the Bill Gaither family. He is survived by his son Randy (Fran), daughter Jerilyn Vasilaros, grandsons Aaron Kautz (Adrianne) and Nolan Pellett (Terrie), and great grand-daughters Jane Pellett and Addison Kautz. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, December 22, at Hillside Cemetery, 143 Seton Trail, Ormond Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations should be directed to Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee or Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach. Arrangements are being handled by Bevis Funeral Home and Crematory, Tallahassee, Florida(850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

Tributes

William A. (Bill) Kautz

March 30, 1925 - December 14, 2025