William "Will" Kendall Akers

William Kendall Akers passed away to be with his Lord at the age of 41 years on Monday, April 12, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN. He is the son of Marshall and Jane Akers, and brother to Sarah (nee Akers) Nilsson and Paul Akers. William was born on January 4, 1980 in Allentown, PA where he spent the first part of his childhood. Will’s formative years were spent in Oswego, IL where he grew up competing in soccer and track. Well respected for his giftedness in running, he was a highly competitive distance runner in the Chicago region during junior high, culminating in running the mile event in 4:59 seconds during his final 8th track meet, trailing a 30-year-old school record by only one second. He continued to compete in soccer and track at a high level throughout high school as well as being involved in other extracurricular activities and excelling in academics. Outside of school, William was active in church and his youth group at First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, and was driven by his faith in Jesus Christ, which was the guiding force in his life.

In 1998 he graduated from Oswego High School with honors and subsequently relocated to Sequim, WA where he spent time with his grandparents Eugene & Margaret Akers, earned his associate degree at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, WA, and attended the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. William treasured the Pacific Northwest and West Coast. Mt. Rainier, the forests of the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Ocean were the daily backdrops of his life from 1999-2001, followed by the California coastlines of Malibu and Santa Monica and the mountains of Los Angeles until 2019.

William’s passions and pursuits were reading, creative writing, primarily screenwriting, studying film, and engaging in intellectual and philosophical conversation. His proximity to spectacular outdoors afforded opportunities for hiking, mountain climbing, skiing and snowboarding, and mountain biking. Some highlights were viewing a total solar eclipse in Oregon, hiking the Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon, and skiing and snowboarding in Big Bear and other western slopes. He derived a great sense of accomplishment from climbing to the 14,411’ summit of Mt. Rainier in 2016 and climbing to the 14,409’ summit of Mt. Whitney in 2019. His future dream was to build a home in the eastern Washington/Idaho area where he could continue to live in a place surrounded by natural beauty. William aspired to travel outside the United States and fulfilled an aspiration to see England and Scotland with a trip there in 2018. He had hopes of traveling to Japan, France, and Italy.

Exceeded only by his love of nature was Will’s intense affection for his friends and family. Living at great distances from his biological family, Will built a family of friends during his years living in Washington state and California. He was surrounded by people that he loved, and who loved him in return. His positive, caring, and witty personality will be missed by his lifelong friends and family. Will was a fun, lively uncle to his two nieces, Sophia and Amelia Nilsson. He loved playing Minecraft, board games, and teaching them how to dive in the swimming pool. A highlight every year for Will was returning to the Midwest to spend Christmas with his family.

William is survived by his parents, Marshall and Jane Akers, sister Sarah Nilsson, brother Paul Akers, brother-in-law Mathias Nilsson, nieces Sophia and Amelia Nilsson, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in passing by an uncle, Ralph Akers, paternal grandparents Earl Eugene and Margaret Kendall Akers, maternal grandparents Merrill William and Berneil Heller Baxter, and cousin Mark K. Baxter.

A time of visiting will be held Tuesday, April 20, 2021 from 5-7PM. Visitation will continue the following day, Wednesday, April 21st from 11AM-12PM with funeral services to begin at 12noon at Flanner Buchanan- Washington Park East, 10722 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46229.

For those unable to attend his service Wednesday at 12PM  you may join the family virtually by clicking here.