Vasilios William "Bill" Kaklis

Bill was born on November 16, 1942, in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, to John and Elizabeth Kaklis. He grew up surrounded by extended family and friends in the close-knit steel town, located outside of Pittsburgh, where his parents operated the locally famous, Bill’s Lunch, offering hot dogs and cold beers to hard working steel workers, both day and night.

During high school, Bill moved to Tarpon Springs, Florida, to help care for his grandmother. Falling in love with the state of Florida, Bill attended the University of Miami, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1964; before earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law in 1968.

Bill proudly served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1964 to 1970, while working, earning his degrees, and raising his young family.

Bill married his wife of 60 years, Vickie, on June 17, 1965, prior to moving to Gainesville for law school. The couple returned to Palmetto, Florida, Vickie’s hometown, to start his career and raise their family. Bill and Vickie welcomed two children, John William and Teresa Elaine.

Bill joined the established law firm of Miller & Gallen, in Bradenton, Florida in 1969. Throughout the years, with the retirement of various partners, the firm evolved to Miller, Gallen & Kaklis; Miller, Gallen, Kaklis & Venable; Miller, Kaklis, Venable & Witt; and finally, Kaklis, Venable & Witt. Following a fifty-year distinguished and honorable career as a trial lawyer, Bill retired in 2019.

Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, attending NASCAR races, hunting, boating, fishing, jogging, Thursday night tennis matches, playing church league softball, and weekly card nights with friends. He also enjoyed reading and spending long summers with Vickie, at their home in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. You could always find Bill cheering on his favorite sports teams, including the Florida Gators, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Miami Hurricanes.

Bill was an officer and director of the Palmetto Jaycee’s, director of the Palmetto Boys Club, Commissioner of the Palmetto Fire Control District, officer of the Manatee River Lions Club, member of the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society, member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club, served on the board of directors of the Bradenton Yacht Club; and on the board of trustees of the Palmetto First United Methodist Church. Bill served three consecutive terms on the Palmetto City Council and was an avid supporter of Palmetto High School academics and athletics, where three generations of Bill and Vickie’s family proudly attended school.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, John William and Theresa Elizabeth Kaklis; mother-in-law, Marguerite Elaine Bickner; brother, Theophalus “Ted” John Kaklis; and granddaughter, Shelby Dale Dees. He is survived by his wife, Vickie Wallack Kaklis; son, John William Kaklis (Josh); daughter, Teresa “Teri” Kaklis Dees (John); Chondra Harvey; three grandchildren, Madeline Nicole Kaklis, William Michael Kaklis, and Taylor Elizabeth Dees; and many extended family members.

A visitation to offer condolences to the family will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 9:00am until 10:30am; immediately followed by a service, both of which will be held at the Palmetto First United Methodist Church, 330 11th Avenue West, Palmetto, Florida. A celebration of life will be held at the Bradenton Yacht Club, 4307 13th Street West, Palmetto, Florida (located on Snead Island) from 11:30am until 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider contributing to Tunnel to Towers Foundation in honor of Bill’s dedication to military veterans and first responders. Groover Funeral Home at Mansion Memorial Park is handling arrangements.

May his memory be a blessing.