Dr. William R. Kahn

Born and raised in the Chicago area by loving parents and 3 older sisters, he started work at an early age in his father’s tavern, which on Sunday became a church, where his father preached. While in college, he was drafted into the army to fight in WWII. He was shipped off to the front lines, to the Battle of the Bulge, and captured by the Germans. Through God’s Grace, he survived many months of torture and abuse and eventually escaped and made his way back to US front lines. After months of recovery from malnutrition, frostbite, dog attacks, battle wounds, and PTSD, he was honorably discharged and awarded many honors including, a Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster, and 2 Bronze Stars.

From there he met the love of his life, Beverly, in chemistry class while attending Elmhurst College. They started an amazing journey together. Their journey involved traveling around the world, running and owning a variety of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, travel agency, private detective agency, a gas station and towing business and he had also worked as a Deputy Sheriff in DuPage County, IL, and Manatee County, FL.

Tired of the brutal Illinois winters, they moved south to Florida. They were blessed with 4 beautiful daughters, Beverly, Bonnie, Barbara and Nancy.

Bill went back to school and earned a BA and MA from University of South Florida and was President of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. He continued his education at Florida State University, and received his PhD. He was a long time Rotary member and was recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow award and a Board Member on the Orange County Zoning committee.

With his business experience and degrees, he was hired by Valencia Community College to develop the Hotel and Restaurant Management program and was Program Director. He retired after 15 years, but his work was not done.

While being a POW in the war, Bill made a promise to God. “If God would see him through the many hardships, he would come back to the US, and tell people to ‘Wake Up’ and serve God.” Bill kept his promise and after retirement, he served and worked at a soup kitchen ministry, Crossroads Coffee House on South Orange Blossom Trail, in Orlando, Fl. There he played the organ and piano and gave his testimony that led many souls to Christ. His interaction with the homeless, led him to develop United Dental Charities, a non-profit organization which gave free dental service to thousands of needy people. And in 2007, he received the Community Service Award for his dedication.

Among many of his achievements, he was fluent in 3 languages, an airplane pilot, captained many boats, owned and rode motorcycles, and loved fishing. In his later years, he relaxed and spent his time in the Florida Keys fishing with family and friends. He pioneered the Eco-tourism business in Costa Rica with his Wholesale Tour Company, Star Tours. He also went to Haiti and India, as a missionary.

Besides God, family was the most important thing in Bill’s life. Through his daughters he is blessed with his 6 grandchildren, Matthew, Lance, Rochelle, Danielle, David and Brittany. He also has 5 great grandchildren Cali, Jacob, Stella, Ari and Lilly, along with nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bill never passed up an opportunity to share the many miracles of his life to everyone he met, and testify that it was His God that provided all these miracles.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity, or The Hospice of The Comforter.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Gotha, FL.