Bill marshall (1927-2018)
OBITUARY
Marshall, William M. "Bill" Bill Marshall died December 11, 2018 at age 91of complications from a fall. All four of his children were at his bedside. Our Dad took life as it came. By example, he taught his children fairness and social justice before it was called by that name. He taught the value of hard work, holding down two jobs for most of his life. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, and enjoyed wearing the Marshall clan colors. He was happiest dancing to Big Band music in a nightclub, or doing anything in the outdoors.
Bill was born in Chicago on August 4, 1927. He and his brother lost their father when Bill was two, and his brother still an infant. A regular visitor as a young boy to Jane Addams' Hull-House, he was among the first children to attend Viola Spolin's drama improvisation classes there, thanks to his friendship with her son, Paul Sills, who later would found The Second City improvisational theater troupe. Despite his family's poverty, and with Spolin's help, the course of Bill's life was changed when he was accepted on academic scholarship to Chicago's Francis W. Parker School where he earned top grades, played varsity football, was on the swim team, and made lifelong friendships.
Early graduation led to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he played varsity football for three years, and was team captain in 1945. He played one season of lacrosse. A music lover, he sang with the Kenyon choir. He left Kenyon to serve a year in the Army stateside, in part tending to German prisoners of war at Fort Sheridan in Highwood, Ill.He returned to Kenyon for his senior year and graduated in 1948 with a degree in psychology. Work with Donnelley Publishing (The Yellow Pages) followed, then medical school, where his effort, Bill later said, was doomed due to the college chemistry classes he missed during wartime.
He went on to work for the Chicago Welfare Department, where he met our beloved mother, the late Jane Little. They married in 1954 and raised three children before moving to Northbrook, where they settled into a home built as a farmhouse in 1896. Their fourth child was born in 1965.
Bill held a sales position at Sonneborn/Witco Chemical Corporation for 35 years, until retirement in 1992. Bill was an early adopter of green practices when he launched Antique Barns & Beams, a firm that re-repurposed siding and timbers from historic hand-built barns for many Midwest restaurants, architects and designers.
Dad shoveled his own snow and raked his own leaves. He was a hands-on grandfather to nine grandchildren. He volunteered as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher to immigrants and Lake County (Illinois) Jail inmates. Preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Jane, he is survived by his four children, Edward Marshall (Helen), Sarah Aldridge (Rev. David), Elizabeth Richardson, Susan Bleser (Michael) and nine grandchildren. He also is survived by his companion of 17 years, Dianne Sands. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. at The First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield (Calvin Hall) , 824 Waukegan Road, with a brief reception to follow.
Marshall, William M. "Bill" Bill Marshall died December 11, 2018 at age 91of complications from a fall. All four of his children were at his bedside. Our Dad took life as it came. By example, he taught his children fairness and social justice before it was called by that name. He taught the value of hard work, holding down two jobs for most of his life. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, and enjoyed wearing the Marshall clan colors. He was happiest dancing to Big Band music in a nightclub, or doing anything in the outdoors.
Bill was born in Chicago on August 4, 1927. He and his brother lost their father when Bill was two, and his brother still an infant. A regular visitor as a young boy to Jane Addams' Hull-House, he was among the first children to attend Viola Spolin's drama improvisation classes there, thanks to his friendship with her son, Paul Sills, who later would found The Second City improvisational theater troupe. Despite his family's poverty, and with Spolin's help, the course of Bill's life was changed when he was accepted on academic scholarship to Chicago's Francis W. Parker School where he earned top grades, played varsity football, was on the swim team, and made lifelong friendships.
Early graduation led to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he played varsity football for three years, and was team captain in 1945. He played one season of lacrosse. A music lover, he sang with the Kenyon choir. He left Kenyon to serve a year in the Army stateside, in part tending to German prisoners of war at Fort Sheridan in Highwood, Ill.He returned to Kenyon for his senior year and graduated in 1948 with a degree in psychology. Work with Donnelley Publishing (The Yellow Pages) followed, then medical school, where his effort, Bill later said, was doomed due to the college chemistry classes he missed during wartime.
He went on to work for the Chicago Welfare Department, where he met our beloved mother, the late Jane Little. They married in 1954 and raised three children before moving to Northbrook, where they settled into a home built as a farmhouse in 1896. Their fourth child was born in 1965.
Bill held a sales position at Sonneborn/Witco Chemical Corporation for 35 years, until retirement in 1992. Bill was an early adopter of green practices when he launched Antique Barns & Beams, a firm that re-repurposed siding and timbers from historic hand-built barns for many Midwest restaurants, architects and designers.
Dad shoveled his own snow and raked his own leaves. He was a hands-on grandfather to nine grandchildren. He volunteered as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher to immigrants and Lake County (Illinois) Jail inmates. Preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Jane, he is survived by his four children, Edward Marshall (Helen), Sarah Aldridge (Rev. David), Elizabeth Richardson, Susan Bleser (Michael) and nine grandchildren. He also is survived by his companion of 17 years, Dianne Sands. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. at The First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield (Calvin Hall) , 824 Waukegan Road, with a brief reception to follow.