CLEARLAKE, Calif. – S. William Kapranos of Clearlake passed away Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, at St. Helena Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born May 5, 1921, in Chicago to Christine Weber and William S. Kapranos.

He received his degree in chemical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1943. He was active in ROTC but did not serve in the military in WWII as his work developing jet fuel at Shell Oil was considered vital to the war effort.

His work as a management consultant and executive took him all over the world. He held many patents and became an entrepreneur.

He enjoyed choral singing, opera, sailing, woodworking, and restoring antique gasoline engines. He could design, build or fix anything. He lovingly built his wife a grandmother clock from a 25 cent set of plans for their 25th wedding anniversary.

He was active in parish life, including founding a chapter of Knights of Columbus at St. Thomas Aquinas in Camas, Washington.

He chopped firewood for the needy well into his 80s. He had a gift for languages and could mimic anyone. He had a song for everything.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Albert; sister, Marie; and son, Richard.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rose Capodice Kapranos; daughters, Karen (Lewis) Bowen and Beth (Kurt) Ackermann; daughter-in-law, Linda Kapranos; grandchildren, Nick (Jaina) Kapranos, Anna (Matt) Moran, Elizabeth Kapranos and Elijah Bowen; and great-grandchildren, Charlie, Lucy and Emma.

Visitation will be at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, followed by a Rosary at 5:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary Immaculate, 801 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Graveside service be at at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Ill.

For further information all Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .