Born to Fred William and Anna L. Meagher Tuerk, Fred married Mary M. Kieffer on March 17, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, William (Vivian) Tuerk and John (Donna) Tuerk; six daughters, Therese Tuerk, Ellen Tuerk, Margaret Tuerk, Mary Tuerk, Barbara (Rich) McDermott and Tina (Kelly) O'Keeffe; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.
He earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1946.
He then worked as a sports writer for the former Peoria Star. He later was an industrial news writer for Caterpillar Inc., editor of Caterpillar World magazine and Caterpillar Folks newspaper, and a legislative and press relations spokesman for Caterpillar.
A World War II Navy veteran, he served in the Mediterranean, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served 20 years before retiring. He was a member of the House Republican leadership and helped pass legislation that created tax increment financing, used extensively for city redevelopment projects.
He was instrumental in landing state money for construction of the Peoria Civic Center. He also backed legislation that led to construction of the second span of the McClugage Bridge and the extension of the Interstate 474 bypass to Illinois Route 29.
Also surviving are two sons, William (Vivian) Tuerk and John (Donna) Tuerk; six daughters, Therese Tuerk, Ellen Tuerk, Margaret Tuerk, Mary Tuerk, Barbara (Rich) McDermott and Tina (Kelly) O'Keeffe; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.
He earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1946.
He then worked as a sports writer for the former Peoria Star. He later was an industrial news writer for Caterpillar Inc., editor of Caterpillar World magazine and Caterpillar Folks newspaper, and a legislative and press relations spokesman for Caterpillar.
A World War II Navy veteran, he served in the Mediterranean, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served 20 years before retiring. He was a member of the House Republican leadership and helped pass legislation that created tax increment financing, used extensively for city redevelopment projects.
He was instrumental in landing state money for construction of the Peoria Civic Center. He also backed legislation that led to construction of the second span of the McClugage Bridge and the extension of the Interstate 474 bypass to Illinois Route 29.
Born to Fred William and Anna L. Meagher Tuerk, Fred married Mary M. Kieffer on March 17, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, William (Vivian) Tuerk and John (Donna) Tuerk; six daughters, Therese Tuerk, Ellen Tuerk, Margaret Tuerk, Mary Tuerk, Barbara (Rich) McDermott and Tina (Kelly) O'Keeffe; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.
He earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1946.
He then worked as a sports writer for the former Peoria Star. He later was an industrial news writer for Caterpillar Inc., editor of Caterpillar World magazine and Caterpillar Folks newspaper, and a legislative and press relations spokesman for Caterpillar.
A World War II Navy veteran, he served in the Mediterranean, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served 20 years before retiring. He was a member of the House Republican leadership and helped pass legislation that created tax increment financing, used extensively for city redevelopment projects.
He was instrumental in landing state money for construction of the Peoria Civic Center. He also backed legislation that led to construction of the second span of the McClugage Bridge and the extension of the Interstate 474 bypass to Illinois Route 29.
Also surviving are two sons, William (Vivian) Tuerk and John (Donna) Tuerk; six daughters, Therese Tuerk, Ellen Tuerk, Margaret Tuerk, Mary Tuerk, Barbara (Rich) McDermott and Tina (Kelly) O'Keeffe; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.
He earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1946.
He then worked as a sports writer for the former Peoria Star. He later was an industrial news writer for Caterpillar Inc., editor of Caterpillar World magazine and Caterpillar Folks newspaper, and a legislative and press relations spokesman for Caterpillar.
A World War II Navy veteran, he served in the Mediterranean, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served 20 years before retiring. He was a member of the House Republican leadership and helped pass legislation that created tax increment financing, used extensively for city redevelopment projects.
He was instrumental in landing state money for construction of the Peoria Civic Center. He also backed legislation that led to construction of the second span of the McClugage Bridge and the extension of the Interstate 474 bypass to Illinois Route 29.
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