William Simpson Whitlock

PLEASANT PRAIRIE - William S. Whitlock, 72, passed away at his home with his wife and daughter at his side on Monday, March 18, 2024, after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born to the late Robert and Ila (nee: Herrick) Whitlock in Topeka, Kansas, on November 1, 1951. Bill grew up in Rossville, Kansas, and was a graduate of Rossville High School and Manhattan Area Vocational Technical School. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hayward on October 26, 1985, in Elgin, Illinois, and the birth of their daughter Emily completed their family on November 23, 1987. Bill was an ASE-certified auto mechanic and eventually expanded his skills to include just about every kind of vehicle. Early on, he had his own auto repair business in Rossville, and after moving to the Kenosha, Wisconsin, area, he worked at many places, among them McDevitt’s Automotive Repair, LeMay Pontiac-GMC, Advance Mechanical Contractors, the Village of Pleasant Prairie, and Transit Management of Racine, where he retired. In 1989 he was able to interrupt his career for a year, taking time off to stay at home with his 2-year-old daughter Emily, once Liz had to go back to work. This was a time when he and Emily forged a strong, lifelong bond and exemplified his highest priority: family. Bill was passionate about working on cars and motorcycles, especially vintage ones, in his spare time. He loved going to swap meets with his buddies, collecting parts and vehicles to work on in his barn at home. He was especially proud of his dad’s 1950 GMC pickup, Ole Blue, which he was almost finished restoring at the time of his death, and a 1993 Harley motorcycle which he and Liz bought from singer-songwriter Neil Young. Buying Neil Young’s motorcycle in 2009 began a tradition for Bill and Liz of attending the Bridge School Benefit Concert in Mountain View, CA, every year, and the annual Farm Aid concert in various cities, sometimes riding the motorcycle there. Through these events they started friendships with many other Neil Young fans from all over the country and the world. Bill loved everything old, besides old vehicles. His parents having owned an antique business, he grew up appreciating antiques and collectibles and knowing their value. He and Liz had fun attending auctions, estate sales, and flea markets, even when they traveled. Bill loved road trips. He would much rather drive than fly anywhere. Their favorite trip was the entire length of Route 66 in which Bill drove the whole way while Liz navigated. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, also named William S. Whitlock, who died at birth. He is survived by his wife, Liz; daughter, Emily (Justin Hernandez) Whitlock; sister, Sue (Dave) Aschenbrenner; a niece, Lisa Lett; an uncle, Gary (Linda) Herrick; many other sisters- and brothers-in-law: Clarence (Brenda) Hayward, Dave (Tena) Hayward, John (Debby) Hayward, Chip (Vicky Hayward) Lock, Mike (Carolyn Hayward) Williams; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins and their children. Bill was laid to rest in a green burial in the St. Francis Meadow of Holy Cross Cemetery in Caledonia. A memorial service for Bill will be held at Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist, 5810 8th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin, on April 27. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. and the service will start at 11:00 a.m. Later, another memorial service will be held in Rossville, Kansas. In remembrance of Bill, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at PanCAN.org.

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William Simpson Whitlock

November 1, 1951 - March 18, 2024