William "Bill" S. Duerk Jr.

William “Bill” S. Duerk Jr. age 68 of Defiance, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Somerset, Pennsylvania.

Bill was born on May 5, 1957 to William Sr. and Doris (Memmer) Duerk in Defiance, Ohio. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1975 and went on to get an Associates of Civil Engineering from Northwest Technical College. On February 29, 1996 he married Janice Riedel.  

Looking around town, you will find Bill’s lasting imprint in the community he loved.  Over the years, as a third-generation owner of Duerk Construction Inc., he built the VFW,  War Memorial, and the original Bob Evans, just to name a few. He also had a part in various projects at General Motors, Johns Manville, Diehl and many others area businesses. After retirement in 2014, he continued to work part time with the City of Defiance. Bill was an active and devoted member of Rotary, and could often be found behind the grill and living by Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self”. Over the course of his life, Bill served in many other capacities including Defiance Auxiliary Police Patrolman, a member of the Carpenters Union and as the Zoning Commission Chairman of Noble Township. Many will remember him as one of the “Blues Brothers”, who used to fire off the cannon with his brother Larry, at DHS’s home football games. In 2022 they received the Jack Palmer Pride of Bulldog award for their 20 years of Friday night booms. In Bill’s spare time you would find him sharing his love for cooking, gardening and all things Navy and WWII with beloved his wife and family. If you truly knew Bill, you knew he never met a stranger. His huge heartwarming smile, bear hugs and pin-filled suspenders will be deeply missed by all his family and friends.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Janice; his son, Chris (Jodi) Ripke of Fort Wayne, IN, daughter, Danielle (Ben) Brown of Holland, OH; grandsons, Jack, Sterling (Madi), Hudson and Spencer; granddaughters, Cori, Harper and Karlene; brother, Larry (Theresa) Duerk; sister Loretta (Greg) Gerken; lifetime friends George and Kim Moss; and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 2pm - 8pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A funeral service will be held at 11am with visitation beginning at 10am on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Kurt Mews officiating. Bill will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Defiance Athletic Booster in memory of Bill Duerk. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.

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