Attorney William J. Foote passed away early Easter morning on April 17, 2022, in Aurora, Illinois, at age 89, surrounded during his last days, as he was throughout his life, by his family. He was born on May 11, 1932, to Raymond A. and Arvilla (Atherton) Foote in Sandwich, Illinois.

Bill attended Nancy Hill Elementary School and then graduated from West Aurora High School in 1950, where he held several class offices including Student Council President. He was an avid debater at West High.

He won an academic scholarship to Harvard College where he studied economics and in 1955 graduated with high honors. He continued his debate training at Harvard and won the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Triangular Debate his junior year. He studied law at Harvard Law School and graduated in 1958.

After graduation, he returned to Aurora and began practicing law. In 1962, Bill and the late Aurora attorney John E. Dreyer formed a law partnership under the name of Dreyer, Foote and Streit. Now known as Dreyer, Foote, Streit, Furgason and Slocum, it is the longest continuing legal partnership in Aurora.

Bill served as Aurora's Corporation Counsel for 12 years. He worked together with Mayor Albert D. McCoy to greatly increase the city's size by annexing the entire Fox Valley Mall and surrounding area into Aurora. The 1973 annexation was the second largest in Illinois history.

He was a member of the Kane County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association and was recently honored for his more than 60 years of legal practice. Although he argued cases before the Illinois Supreme Court and handled highly complex litigation, he was most proud of the work he did helping the residents of the Aurora area with their individual legal issues. Bill's personal warmth and genial nature turned many of these clients into close friends.

Bill was one of the founders of the West Aurora High School Alumni Association and helped establish its Hall of Honor. He was a long-time member of Holy Angels Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and a Lector for many years.

He is survived by his wife, the former Marilyn A. Pompa, whom he married 66 years ago in 1955. They met playing tennis and won many trophies in tournament play. Their passion for the sport lasted well into their 70s. They enjoyed traveling extensively throughout their lives, visiting all seven continents.

Together Bill and Marilyn have four children, James (Gail) Foote of Barrington, Illinois; Laura (Brian) Hunger of Aurora; David (Kelly) Foote of Orlando, Florida; and Sharon (Nelson Medal) Heckel of Alameda, California. Bill is survived by seven grandchildren, Sarah (Stephen Fraser) Hunger, Thomas (Sarah) Foote, Kathryn (Peter) Elliott, Daniel Foote, Ryan Foote (fiancé Miranda Shaver), Christina (Jacob McConkey) Hunger, and Michelle Foote (fiancé Jory Frasco). Six great-grandchildren survive him.

His sister Marge Medgyesi and sister-in-law Helen Foote also survive him. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Raymond A. Foote, Jr. and Edward L. Foote and sister-in-law Irene Foote.

Beyond his service to Aurora as an attorney, Bill helped many in the Aurora community. For years he volunteered nights in homeless shelters, co-established a scholarship fund for at-risk students, and helped many individuals in need.

He will be remembered by his many friends and family for his engaging manner, his keen sense of humor, and his devotion to his family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora. Burial will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Contributions can be made to either the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley for the Marilyn A. and William J. Foote Scholarship Endowment Fund or the Holy Angels Food Pantry.