WILLIAM F. ZEIS
1952-2021
William “Bill” Francis Roach Zeis of Houston died unexpectedly on Saturday, the 11th of September 2021, at the age of 69. Bill passed peacefully surrounded by his family and is now at peace, reunited with his wife and love of his life, Ileana De Leon Zeis (1954-2015).
Bill was born on the 28th of August 1952, to loving parents Dr. Leander B. Zeis (1914-1968) and Josephine Robbins Zeis (1912-2008). He attended St. Peter the Apostle, St. Michael Catholic School, and St. Thomas
High School, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in
1974. After graduation and an adventure living as a mountain man in Colorado, Bill settled in Houston and began working at CECO in 1976, where he continued to work for 39 years until his retirement in 2015. At every point along the way, he met the many people who would go on to become his lifelong friends. In 1980 he married his beloved wife Ileana and for 34 years they lived out their love story, inspiring their three children and everyone who knew them.
Bill was a strong, loving and supportive father. His family meant more to him than anything in the world, and he was endlessly in awe of his only granddaughter, Ileana Jane. He was wildly intelligent with an astounding intellect and recall of random knowledge and historical facts, a talented writer with an incredible gift for prose. Ever the curmudgeon, there was no topic that could not raise his ire, yet he still managed to leave everyone laughing with every conversation. He will be remembered for his dry wit and sense of humor, and his kindhearted ability to put everyone’s needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jo and Lee, wife Ileana, brother John, and sister Laura Lee. He is survived by his daughter Catherine Jane Zeis and son-in-law Joshua Wailes; daughter Cira Zeis Brooks, son-in-law Cameron Brooks and granddaughter Ileana Jane Brooks; his son Lee William Zeis; his siblings Paul M. Zeis, Charles D. Zeis, Marie Zeis Lawrence, Catherine L. Zeis; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, colleagues, neighbors, and friends. Bill will be missed by all.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 23rd of September, in the library and grand foyer of
Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 24th of September, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where Rev. Wayne Wilkerson, Pastor, is to serve as celebrant.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.
Please visit Mr. Zeis’ online memorial tribute page at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.