William B. Zerkel

William B. Zerkel, Jr., 67, of Roscoe passed away at home Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from Covid-19. He was born and baptized in Chicago, IL, 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, IL in the late 70’s to be near his long-lost siblings. He married Sandra Olson in Eau Claire, WI near her family.

Bill worked many jobs including at Bethel Steel, Wheaton Asphalt, Schlichting & Sons Excavating and retired from N-TRAK Group in Loves Park on January 1, 2019. He received his 25-year pin from the International Union of Operating Engineers. He missed his jobs and co-workers. His jobs consisted of welding, fabricating and fixing rock crushing equipment and driving big loaders in quarries. He always said, “I get to go and play in these big loaders and they pay me for doing it".

Bill loved his Lord and attended Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Janesville, WI.  During the pandemic he went to Peace Lutheran Church, Loves Park, IL for their drive-in worships and finally listening to 103.5 FM services in the parking lot.  Spending time with his son and family was at the top of his list. He loved to travel with family and friends to Cancun. Bill has been through over 35 states to visit family and see the beauty of the country God created. He loved to fish, sit around campfires, play cards especially 21, Tic and No Peak. He also enjoyed mowing lawn, tilling and planting gardens. He loved helping others, even strangers, if and when they needed food, clothing, borrowing tools and fixing things.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, 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 brother, Mark Sanders; and other relatives and friends.

Memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1550 S. Osborne, Janesville, WI 53546 with Pastor Mark Schewe officiating. Visitation from 10:00 AM until time of service.

Memorial service will also be held at 1:00 PM Sunday, May 15, 2022 in Peace Lutheran Church, 502 Orth Road, Loves Park with Pastor Aaron Platzer officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM in the church.

Graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, May 21, 2022 in Evergreen Cemetery, Colfax, WI with Pastor Bob Schoenknecht officiating. 

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