William T. "Bill" Zell, age 93, a resident of Carol Stream, passed away July 11, 2021.  He was born February 25, 1928 in Chicago to John & Mary Zell.

Bill was born during the Depression Era and spent his childhood in the Albany Park and Lincoln Square neighborhoods of Chicago.  He graduated from Saint Phillips High School. He served in the US Navy as an Airman from 1948 to 1952. He met Ruth Phillips at the Aragon Ballroom in Uptown.

After marrying in 1955, Bill and Ruth had three children, Larry, Susan and Charles and made their home in Franklin Park, enjoying boating most every weekend in the summers at the Chain of Lakes.  During this time, Bill was a truck driver for Phillips Excavating.  By 1970, Bill and Ruth realized a "dream come true", moving to a 160-acre farm in the Ozarks Mts. in Ava, Missouri.  Bill built his own dairy barn and through the next 25 years, the Zell family milked dairy cows, and raised beef cattle, along with a few pigs and chickens. They kept a few horses for pleasure and amusement.  Bill enjoyed tinkering with farm equipment, especially his John Deere tractors.  Bill and Ruth sold their farm in 1995 and moved to West Chicago to be closer to their six grandchildren before Ruth's passing in 1997.

In 1999, Bill married Mildred Ferrington and celebrated a wonderful five "golden" years.  Bill and Millie enjoyed their first Caribbean cruise together and many driving adventures to Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado and Nevada until Millie's Homegoing in 2004.

After a few years on his own, Bill met and married Charlotte Smith in 2008.  They relocated from West Chicago to Oak Brook where they spent much of their time comfortably at home and dining out locally and visiting with family until Charlotte's passing in 2015.

For the remainder of his days, Bill made his home with Charles in Jefferson Park until December 2020.  He relocated to Carol Stream for his final months, remaining faithful to the Lord, the memories of his wonderful wives and family, and eagerly awaited the transition to his Heavenly Home.

He is survived by his children, Lawrence (Debra) Zell, Charles Zell, & Susan (Thomas) Solon; his grandchildren: Jason, Amy (Moritz Heinisch) Zell & Jesse Zell and Stephen, Daniel & Jonathan (fiancée Karly Hanna) Solon; and his sister Marian Zell. Also survived by his daughter through marriage: Patricia Faestel and her daughter Ashley, and also a son through marriage: Edmund.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Ruth; his second wife of five years Mildred; and his third wife of seven years Charlotte. Also preceded by his four siblings: Evelyn, John, Vernon and Lilian.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 10:00am until time of memorial service 11:00am at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Private interment will be held at Wheaton Cemetery.