Wilbur Eugene O'Rourke, Jr.

On December 2, 2019 in Gladstone, MI, mother nature welcomed home the bravest, strongest, and loving man. Sgt. Wilbur “Bill” Eugene O’Rourke, Jr., USMC, age 72, of Gladstone, is at peace and back to nature where his heart has always felt it belonged. A hardworking family man, Bill, was born on November 26, 1947 in Ringgold, GA, the son of Wilbur and Ruth (Rogers) O’Rourke, Sr. Bill grew up in Arcadia, MI and was proud to have been raised as a farm boy working with his parents to tend the fruit crops they produced. Graduating at the age of 16 from Onekama High School he was a man of great intelligence and skill. Bill served his country as a Sergeant and Vietnam veteran for his beloved U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 – 1969. Second only to his family, the USMC remained a great source of pride for him his entire life. Upon returning home, he graduated from college and was an officer for the Manistee City Police Department for 15 years. Throughout his life, the list of jobs he had mainly involved cars, a love he had for his entire life. Bill worked for Linke’s Body Shop in Manistee, was the co-owner of Coach Craft in Onekama, was a body shop manager at Bill Marsh Auto Group in Traverse City and Benzonia, and retired as an insurance adjuster for Citizens Insurance Company and Michigan Appraisal Company.

Bill O’Rourke is survived by “the most super woman in the world”, his wife of 37 years, Paulette O’Rourke of Gladstone, MI; his children, Dee, Ryan, and Kathleen; and is also survived by the greatest joys of his life, his grandchildren, Andrew, Star, Jacob, Michael, Reagan, Ruby, Kennedy, and Casper; and his great-grandson, Linkin.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Ruth O’Rourke, Sr.

Per Bill’s wishes, a private family memorial service is being scheduled for a later date in the spring of 2020. 

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