Wilhelm Ferdinand Kalle was born in Biebrich on February 19, 1870.
After studying chemistry in Geneva, Strasbourg, Erlangen and Dresden, he became a partner in the chemical factory Kalle und Co. in 1897, which his father had founded in 1863. In 1904, the family business was converted into a joint-stock company and he became the company's general manager. In 1926, the factory was incorporated into I.G. Farben and Kalle moved to the Board of Directors of the parent company, becoming Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the same time.

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Kalle became involved in the German People's Party founded by Gustav Stresemann after the First World War. He became a member of the Prussian state parliament for this party in 1919, before becoming a member of the Reichstag between 1924 and 1932.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, his home town honored him with an entry in the Golden Book on February 19, 1950. Mayor Redlhammer praised Kalle's entrepreneurial and political work and explained how proud the town was of its son. In 1953, Kalle was also made an honorary citizen.

He died in Tutzing on September 7, 1954.