William Richard Kohoutek was born August 5, 1947, to Frank A. Kohoutek and Carol Lorraine Hyelte Kohoutek. He was baptized the following September, at Grace Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. His God parents were Raymond Siefeldt, Elroy Ahrans and Angela Hutchinson.

Bill attended Grace Lutheran grade school K-8th grades and was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church on Palm Sunday, March 26, 1961. His Confirmation Verse was: "'God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life"' John 3:16.

Bill attended Luther South High School in Chicago from 1961 1965 and immediately thereafter entered the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the destroyer USS DeHaven as an electronics technician (communications), from June of 1965 through June of 1969. Most of his tour was spent in Vietnam with occasional respite in Japan and the Philippines.

Thereafter he was an electronics technician for various companies, finishing with about 25 years at TRW.

Bill married Lynn Baumann in 1969; they were divorced in 1980.

He is survived by his daughter: Karen Anne Wohlgezogen, step-daughter: Lauren Page Arvizu, sister: Jane Marie Tyk, nephews: Chad Tyk and Stephen Tyk (Godson), Aunts: Angela Hutchinson, Zita Varuska, and Regina George, and cousins.

His primary interest in life was the study of Theology and History, and he collected thousands of books for his personal library.