Walter Turk

Walter E. Turk, 87, of Belfair, Washington, passed from this life to eternity on June 22, 2007. Walter was born on October 9, 1919 in Crosby, Minnesota, to Carl and Frances Turk. He was the second of four sons. In the 1930s, he worked his way from Minnesota to Washington, finally settling in Bremerton. Walter served in the U.S. Army in the Asiatic Pacific during World War II, achieving the rank of Technician 5th Grade prior to his honorable discharge on April 14, 1946. He retired from the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington in 1989 after a 30 year career as a welder and burner. Walter's marriage to Ruth Mary (Lantz) produced three daughters. He married Delores 'Angie' (Fisher) Turk on January 2, 1970 in Port Orchard, Washington. She preceded him in death on April 2, 1994. Walter loved to dance and belonged to many local organizations including Elks, Bremerton Eagles, Sons of Norway and North Mason Senior Citizens Association. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and National Rifle Association, as well as a member of the Washington Arms Collectors. He attended Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Walter's most well known hobby and passion was his photography. He documented life's important moments for countless friends and associates. In later years he learned to use a digital camera and color printer, printing his own pictures and making little picture boxes, then giving them and extra photos away at his own expense. "Don't rob me of my joy," he would tell people who would try to reimburse him. Survivors include his long-time close friend and dance partner Betty Fawcett of Tacoma, Washington; the mother of his daughters, Ruth Kraft of Bremerton; his daughters and their husbands, Mary Turk Swoboda and Lee Swoboda of Belfair, Maureen Turk Farndon and Fred Farndon of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Vicky Turk Backus and Michael Backus of Anchorage, Alaska. He has one granddaughter, Kristie McGlaughlin and husband Jeremy in Ohio and a brother, Lloyd Turk and wife Hazel in Richfield, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Mason Cancer Crusaders, PO Box 40, Belfair, WA 98528, or to the charity of the donor's choice. A memorial service will be held Monday, July 2, at Rill's Life Tribute Center at 2 pm, with public viewing starting at 1pm. A Reception will follow at the Port Orchard Eagles on Jackson Avenue. An on-line Memorial can be viewed & signed at www.rill.com .