William “Bill” “Yogi” Finnern, 87, of Morton Grove, Illinois passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Catherine “Cassie” Finnern, nee Leonard, father William Finnern and mother Lillian Finnern. He is survived by his daughter Lisa Whitson and son-in-law Kevin Whitson.

Cherished father, father-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend, he was born on July 14, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois.

Highly educated and known for being “smarter than the average bear,” Bill spent his career as an internal auditor at various organizations including Teletype, Northwestern University, Resurrection Hospital and the State of Illinois. He also served our country in the U.S. Army for two years.

Bill always enjoyed spending time with friends and family and keeping them on their toes with his dry sense of humor and witty passion for debate. In his early years with his wife and daughter, he relished in boating, snowmobiling, camping and taking road trips. He was a friend to all animals, rescuing countless furry creatures over his lifetime. Being a night owl was embedded in Bill’s DNA, exemplified by regular 1 a.m. visits to Mr. Donut with his daughter and staying up all night to watch the Nikkei stock exchange open. His fervor for ice cream was unparalleled.

In his retirement, he was an avid gardener with an ability to grow plants of impressive proportions. He also enjoyed basking in the sun on his deck and relaxing in the glow of a fire at night.

Most of all, he was a loving husband, father and friend with a tender heart wrapped in a somewhat ornery exterior.

In sum, he was Adequate++!

Visitation at Simkins Funeral Home 6251 Dempster St. Morton Grove, IL 60053 on Thursday, May 21st from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral service at Simkins Funeral Home on Friday, May 22nd at 10:00 a.m. Interment Union Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Animal Welfare League 10305 SW Hwy. Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415 would be appreciated by the family. For Information, Simkins Funeral Home (847) 965-2500