Schurkamp, William John "Bill"

 

William John “Bill” Schurkamp, age 86 of Fremont, passed away Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the North Ottawa Care Center in Spring Lake.  Bill was born on February 22, 1923 in Fremont to Avert and Lela (Davey) Schurkamp.  Bill graduated from Fremont High School in 1941 and joined the United States Army where he served in the 77th Infantry, participating in the invasion of Guam and Leyte in the Philippines as a medic/anesthetist.  After his discharge, Bill returned to Fremont where he married his high school sweetheart, Marian Nelson on August 31, 1946.  Together they raised three sons and provided for their college education.  Bill taught his children the meaning of the vow “in sickness and in health” by the manner in which he cared for his wife, Marian during her 16 year illness, which took her from him in 1986.  Bill was an avid carpenter, hunter and fisherman and enjoyed living on Fremont Lake.   Bill retired from the United State Postal Service after 36 years at the Fremont Post Office with 1,000,000 accident free miles in 1988.

 

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, whom he was very proud of, and their families, Roger & Charlene (Crosby) Schurkamp of Spencerport, New York and their daughters, Lynnea and Melissa; Richard & Christine (Raak) Schurkamp of Grand Haven and their children, Casey (Chris) Rice, Melanie (Brent) Coon, Alexandra, and Samuel; Robert & Kristine (Krieg) Schurkamp of Otsego and their children, Lucas, Brenna, Jarrod, and Zak; one brother, Donald Schurkamp.  Bill has now been reunited with his wife, Marian; his parents, Avert and Lela; his brothers, Milo and Robert; and his sister, Mable Klinger.

 

VISITATION : Wednesday, November 25, 2009 from 6-8pm at Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel.  FUNERAL SERVICES : Friday, November 27, 2009 at 11am at the Crandell Funeral Home - Fremont Chapel (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE).  INTERMENT : Maple Grove Cemetery.  MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : Fremont Lake Association for the July 4th Fireworks or Heartwood Lodge of the North Ottawa Care Center.  Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Schurkamp family online at www.crandellfh.com.  

 

Click here to send a condolence for the William John "Bill" Schurkamp Family on-line

 

                                                                                                                                            

Our sympathy and prayers to the Schurkamp and Klinger families:
 
Your families have been a great part of our lives by being our neighbors and friends for so many years.  My brothers and I were classmates of the older generation and our sons were classmates and friends of their children.  Arnold was also a co-worker at Gerber's.
 
We will miss Bill so very much.
 
Arnold and Mildred Woodring

Posted 11/23/2009

                                                                                                                                            

To the Schurkamp family:  We are old friends of Charlene, Roger and girls from Spencerport.  Roger has been one of the leading forces for my boys in sports as well as for our girls.  We attended the White Church with them and drew strength from Roger's leadership there.  We are so very sorry for the loss of his father, Bill and know how very close Roger was to his family - he talked about them so much.  We always knew Roger was from "good stock" so God will be very fortunate to have such a wonderful craftsman in Bill to keep him company!! 
                                                                                                              God bless,  Judy & Sandy McLellan & Family

Posted 11/23/2009

                                                                                                                                            

To the Schurkamp family:

 

I’ve been to Fremont Lake a couple times with Roger. This is where I met his dad and staid in his lake-side home. Freemont Lake a fair size lake, in a quaint little area and yet is the headquarters for Gerber baby foods. He liked telling hunting and fishing stories. He enjoyed living there and often expressed his love for his wife, sons and grandchildren.

I also saw where Roger gets his tough but fair manner. Also his caring, faith, dedication and don’t give up attitude. Roger and his brother Richard were well known in Freemont, just like their dad. It was often said “there will be no peace in the valley when the Schurkamps were around”.

Joanne and I are sorry for your loss and as the Indians say, “He is in the happy hunting ground”.

 

                                                Norm Wolfe

Posted 11/24/2009

                                                                                                                                            

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Schurkamp.  I had the good fortune of knowing the Schurkamps for many years when we moved to Fremont in 1963.  Bill was our mailman for years, and as kids, once in a while we would meet him at the mailbox as he drove up.  He was always very nice to us.  And his wife, Marion was our school bus driver.  So I feel kind of connected to the Schurkamp clan. 

My prayers and sympathies go out to the entire Schurkamp family (Roger, Rich, and Rob).  Bill was definitely one of the good ones. He will most certainly be missed but definitely not forgotten.

Kevin Kent and Kathlyn Kent

 

Posted 11/24/2009

                                                                                                                                            

My prayers and sympathy to the Schurkamp family, especially Kristine. I didn't meet your Dad, but I remember hearing about your parents when we worked together, long ago at Jolman school.
 
Sally Lavender-Hasseldahl (Sally Lukos)
Spring Lake, Mi

Posted 11/25/2009

                                                                                                                                            

The Spencerport Pagani’s (Dave & Patty, Ed & Claudia and families) and Ester Harris are thinking of you at such a difficult time.  Even though he lived a long fruitful life it is hard to actually close the chapter.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you this weekend.

 

Love,

Your friends and neighbors

 

Patty Pagani

Posted 11/25/2009

                                                                                                                                            

Bill was a great guy (so hard to say “was”). I always referred to Bill as my “extra dad”. He was working for my dad at the Leonard gas station when I was born in ‘48. We moved away when I was 12 but no trip to Fremont was complete without a visit to Bill and Marion, and then Bill alone. It always included a guided tour of Fremont catching up on “who has moved where”, “what’s new” and “remember when”. What a joy! We all benefited from his hospitality. Dinner out was always on Bill no matter how many of my friends and family showed up.

I never heard Bill complain. The closest might be in choosing not to even think about marrying again. He said he just couldn’t take a chance on going through that again.

Always generous and joking, kind and encouraging – he will be greatly missed.  

My condolences and love to his family,      

 

Mary Ruth (Eenigenburg) Lightner

Posted 11/25/2009

                                                                                                                                            

To "Bill's" family, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you hold Bill in your thoughts.  He is now carrying the mail in a grand place.   Jim  Sloan 

Posted 11/27/2009

                                                                                                                                            

Bill was one of the funniest guys we ever met. He always had a joke or
a story. He liked to tell about when I took him swimming. I took him
for a ride on our jet ski and had to back up, a little to fast, and we
tipped over and both went swimming. He came over later and said he had
to dry out his money, in the microwave. We all laughed for ten minutes.
Ada and I talk about him often, we will mss him.
Roger and Ada Sutton,,,,,,Tucson Arizona
 

Posted 11/28/2009

                                                                                                                                            

Roger and Richard,
 
Very sorry to hear about the loss of your father.  He was a good man.
 
Karl Schornagel

Posted 12/5/2009