William Zerkel Jr.

William Zerkel Jr., 67, Roscoe, Illinois, died at home on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, from COVID-19.

He was born and baptized in Chicago, Illinois, the son of the late William Sr. and Dorothy (Darimont) Zerkel. He married Carol Laffey and had a son, Robert. They divorced, and Bill moved to Rockford Illinois, in the late 1970s to be near his long-lost siblings. He married Sandra Olson in Eau Claire near her family.

Bill's jobs consisted of welding, fabricating, rock crushing machines and driving big loaders in quarries. He retired January 1, 2019, and received a 25-year pin from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 in Rockford.

Bill loved his Lord and spending time with his son and family. He loved to travel, fish, sit around a campfire, playing cards (21, TIC, No Peak, etc.), mowing lawn, tilling and planting gardens. He was always helping everyone, even strangers, if they needed food, clothing and fixing things.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra (Olson) Zerkel, his son, Robert (Rebecca), granddaughter Morgan, grandson Mackenzie; sisters: Beth (Matt) Cyzewski, Pat (Terry) Marlow, Joanie (Chuck) Lewis, Dee (Larry) Gustafson, Ellen Lesak and a brother, Mark Sanders. Sisters-in-law: Ruth (Greg) Golden and Carolyn Cleasby; brothers-in-law Lester (Ruth) Olson and Nicholas Olson, his Aunt Gladys Tandberg and other relatives and friends.

He is predeceased by his parents, parents-in-law Garfield and Agnes (Schwartz) Olson, brother Michael Zerkel, brothers-in-law Michael Lesak, Terry Olson, Eugene Plemon, and Patrick Plemon; sister-in-law Linda (Olson) Herrmeyer and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, at 1 p.m., with Pastor Bob Schoenknecht officiating at Colfax Evergreen Cemetery.

Sampson Funeral home is assisting the family.

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