William ”Bill” Turk, 87, died peacefully on May 30, 2023. Bill was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, in 1935 to Leslie and Irma Turk. He moved to Frederic, Wisconsin, in 1952 with his family where he attended Frederic High School and met Sandy Dversdall, whom he married in 1955.
Bill had a passion for the outdoors, hiking, fishing and camping. Most in life, he loved sharing his passion for things with others, including active membership in Toastmasters. Bill was a Boy Scout leader in Bloomington, Indiana, for over a decade, earning the Silver Beaver Award which is the highest honor a council may present for exceptional service in scouting. He was also an avid woodworker. He worked with Habitat for Humanity until his blindness in 2008. Even after his blindness, Bill stayed active, mastering new computer skills, continued crafting wooden children’s toys, fishing trips with his kids and grandkids, and was a very active contributor and board member for Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Frederic. Bill persevered in every aspect of his life and was a role model for many.
Bill spent the first years of his career with the Woolworth Company, moving 11 times before settling in Bloomington, Indiana. There, Sandy and Bill raised their two children, Tim and Tami. Bill managed the Indiana University Bookstore for over 20 years. He then went on to become regional vice president for Follett Books, first at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and then moving to Follett corporate offices in Batavia, Illinois, as corporate vice president, until his retirement. Bill and Sandy were very active in every parish they belonged to, participating in children’s sermons, various committees, councils and also Welcome Wagon – Fairview Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana, United Methodist Church of Geneva, Illinois, and Pilgrim Lutheran in Frederic.
Despite leaving Frederic over 50 years prior, Bill and Sandy’s passion for the peaceful “North Woods” brought them back for final retirement in 2016, making Frederic their forever home.
Bill is survived by his two children, son, Tim Turk (Claudette Turk) and daughter, Tamara Turk Hopwood (Tim D’Jock); four grandchildren, Andrew Turk (Rebecca Turk), Danielle Turk Bieber (Michael Bieber), Matthew Hopwood and Nicholas Hopwood; three great-grandchildren, Charles Turk, William Bieber and Brooklyn Bieber; sister, Jean Turk Herrick (Tom Herrick); in-laws, Dean Dversdall and Deborah Dversdall Erickson (Richard Erickson); and several beloved nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Frederic on Friday, June 16, 2023. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., ceremony at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. Graveside burial will be held following the luncheon at Maple Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society or Pilgrim Lutheran Church (Memorial Fund).
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted toRowe Funeral Homes in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
