William (Bill) Kaess

Kaess, William Joseph (Bill) age 81, of Minneapolis. Born November 23, 1944 to Romen and Lucy Kaess in St. Paul, MN. Baptized December 17, 1944, at St. John’s Church of Little Canada. Died July 6, 2026, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Lu; brothers, John and Jerome; niece, Mary Ann.

Survived by wife of 50 years, Naomi Kaess (née Kay); children, Emily Kaess, Anne (Donovan) Slinkard, Elizabeth Kaess, Karl Kaess, Maria (Alan) Johnson, and Genevieve Kaess; grandchildren, Eleanor, Dorothy, Beatrice, and Rex Slinkard; Malakai and Abraham Johnson; brother, Michael (Lori) Kaess; sister-in-law, Peg Kaess; brother-in-law, Christopher (Debbie) Kay; nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill was raised in Little Canada and Minneapolis. He graduated from De La Salle High School in 1962 and from the College of St. Thomas in January of 1968.

Bill was a watchmaker, repair man, and lifelong gardener. He had a very large garden and enjoyed both the many hours he spent tending it and the produce he harvested. He was happy to provide his family with large quantities of fresh, organically grown produce every year. He shared his horticultural knowledge with his children and was always happy to have garden visitors – whether to help with the work or just for a “garden tour.”

Bill loved having his family with him, good conversations, and amusing stories. He could (and often did) talk for hours with his family – especially his brothers – and his close friends. He was also a very good listener – especially with those more inclined to do the talking and with those he knew less well. As his Parkinson’s progressed, he enjoyed hearing about what others were doing and having the newspaper read to him. Even after doing so became difficult, he was always happy to share his troubleshooting and repair wisdom, his thoughts on the news of the day, and his opinions on a vast array of subjects.

One of Bill’s favorite subjects of conversation was food. He was always interested in trying new dishes and hearing about what others were cooking and eating. He was a huge fan of his wife’s baking and, although he probably never found a chocolate chip cookie he didn’t like, he thought her recipe the best. When there were chocolate chip cookies in the house, he would eat one per day – often with his eyes closed – to most enjoy them.

When he wasn’t in his garden, talking with family and friends, or enjoying family meals prepared by his wife, Bill could often be found working quietly while listening to music – usually classical. Although not a musician himself, he enjoyed the talents of others and wanted to see a family history of musicianship passed on. In that interest, he chauffeured his children to many lessons and practices through the years, and programs from their concerts were filed in a drawer in which he kept a folder dedicated to each child.

As his Parkinson’s disease progressed and Bill needed more medical care, he appreciated the talents and kindness of his many caregivers. His family would like to express their appreciation for the EMTs from North Memorial, the MVNA nurses, and everyone at Hennepin Healthcare who played a role in caring for him. Thank you.

Funeral Mass 10:30 AM Friday, July 24, at Ascension Catholic Church, 1723 Bryant Ave. N. Visitation 4-7 PM Thursday, July 23, at Gearty-Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel, 3888 W Broadway Ave., (763) 537-4511. Interment Sunset Cemetery.