View Bill Zahn's MEMORIAL FOLDER

William (Bill) Milton Zahn, left to be with his parents, brother, and best friends on December 22, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer, with his sisters at his bedside in his Los Angeles, CA home.

A memorial service for Bill will take place at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home, in Redfield on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 11:00 am. Family will be present for visitation one hour prior. His ashes will be interred next to his parents and brother at St. Mary's Cemetery, in Aberdeen, SD.

William was born on August 9, 1955 in Aberdeen, SD.Bill was the youngest of five children to Alta Belle (Pulse) Zahn and Joseph Anton Zahn of Redfield, SD. Bill graduated from Redfield High School in 1973. During high school, he received the distinct honor of being selected as a vocalist for America's Youth in Concert and performed with other members from across the nation as they toured throughout Europe. He attended the University of South Dakota where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1977. Bill studied applied music (choral and instrumental) and theater. Bill was a member of the elite USD Madrigal Chamber Singers and was a prominent member of USD's Strollers, winning several trophies throughout his college career. Bill collaborated with many local theater productions in the Vermillion and Yankton area during college.

After graduation, Bill moved to Los Angeles, where he performed in various theater productions and sang in commercials. Bill's beautiful and talented voice was always in demand for weddings and celebrations. Bill worked for the University of California Los Angeles as a Registrar and for the McGuire Group, a human resources firm. Bill's talent, charisma and people skills allowed him to change the lives of many people.

Bill loved his family and friends, and loved to travel. Travelling and visiting with Bill was always an adventure where laughter was inevitable, mandatory and memorable. His smile was infectious, mischievous, and brilliant. He possessed a manner, grace, and kindness attained by few.

Bill is survived by his sisters: Brigitta (Dale) Diede of Mission Hill, SD, Suzanne (Loren) Beard of Harrisburg, SD, and Jane (Cliff) Jensen of Lockport, NY. He is survived by eight nieces and nephews: Wayne (Marlene) Rames, Tami Johnson, Nick Diede, Shaleen Allen, Gentry (Tiffany) Jensen, Dru (Charlene) Jensen, Brodie (Jon) Sorlie and Shzahni Jensen. He is also survived by sixteen great nieces and nephews and five great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, infant brother, Joey, and his three best friends Jeannie Clausen Jacobs, Randy Swedeen, and Pammy Nielsen Boline.

Saturday, May 28, 2016
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Ave
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Saturday, May 28, 2016
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Ave
Redfield, South Dakota 57469