The Walnutport community is in mourning following the passing of a borough councilman who was a catalyst in helping to spur development in the borough.

William Turk, 91, died Sunday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township.

Turk was the husband of Barbara M. (Serfass) Turk, whom he married on Sept. 3, 1971.

A longtime member of borough council, Turk had been serving as its current president.

In addition to his longevity on borough council, Turk served as a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1951-55, having attained the rank of staff sergeant.

Turk was a member of Christ UCC, Walnutport, where he served on the consistory and as a sexton.

He was also a member of the Diamond Fire Company.

Family man

Lynette Turko-Wayda, one of Turk’s daughters, said her father was a “diehard Yankees fan, who loved to golf, loved spending time with his family, liked to shoot pool, he used to love to decorate their house with Christmas lights,” Turko-Wayda said. “He really loved the community, and he loved to do whatever he could to make Walnutport a better town.”

Turk served as a mentor to many, including current Councilman Michael Gaston.

“I found out that he passed on Sunday,” Gaston said. “I knew he was sick; unfortunately, it came very quickly.”

Gaston, who has been a council member for over 20 years, said, “He was one of the reasons I got on council. He was motivated, even back then.”

Gaston explained some of Turk’s objectives.

“He was always focused on the community he lived in,” he said. “That was one thing he always wanted to see, everything run smoothly.”

Gaston added, “We got a lot accomplished over all these years, everybody working together (under Turk’s leadership).”

Gaston said Turk wasn’t afraid to praise people for a job well done.

“He would also say if a compliment was needed, you were told about it,” he said. “If you did a great job, he would tell you about it, give you a pat on the back and say ‘You did a great job.’?”

Gaston said Turk always liked to be involved in as much as he could.

“He was always there for the betterment,” he said. “He was a good friend of mine, very good man, very good person.”

Turk was a member of council for over 30 years.

“I give him a lot of credit with a lot of the things he accomplished with the help of others,” he said. “He was always about what’s best for the community, for the taxpayers.”

Gaston added, “He was good. Whatever he did, he was good.”

Above all else, Gaston said Turk didn’t want to raise taxes.

“He didn’t want to, and we’ve been doing pretty good at it,” he said. “He was always looking out for the betterment of the community.”

Pusher and mover

Michael Wentz, who serves as borough grant coordinator, roadmaster, and fire chief of Diamond Fire Company in Walnutport, has also known Turk for many decades.

“I’ve been working for the borough 34 years, Bill has been on 32 of that,” Wentz said. “There was a lot of work I did with Bill on the grants and everything.”

Wentz said Turk’s dedication is one of the main traits that stuck out most.

“Bill never ever missed a meeting, all the 30-plus years, he made it a point to be there, and he was going to be at the last meeting,” he said. “Mike Gaston was going to pick him up, but he wasn’t up to par with running the meeting.”

Wentz said members of council took word of Turk’s passing hard.

“I know him such a long time,” he said. “It’s very hard.”

Wentz said that when Turk got an idea, action was soon to follow.

“Bill was a pusher and a mover; Bill got things done,” he said. “When Bill saw something, he pushed hard.”

Wentz credits Turk for helping to shape the borough into what it’s become.

“Bill was the focal point to all the improvements over the last 30 years,” he said. “He would always come to me about ‘can we get a grant for this.’

“Bill was always honest and fair and impartial to everyone, right down the middle. “He took his spot on borough council as serious as it got.”

Turk’s unwavering dedication is what Wentz said he’ll best remember Turk for.

“Words can’t describe when a person takes a commitment and is on as long as he was,” he said. ”My hat is off to him.”

Wentz noted that in his over 30 years on council, Turk served as president the majority of them.

“He’s going to be sorely missed,” he said. “He was a focal point over the years, especially in his early years.

“He was a manager at Sears, and he brought that experience in there. Everything he ever said we were going to do, get done, we were going to accomplish, we did.”

Wentz said Turk should be remembered for all his contributions to the community.

“Bill deserves to be recognized,” he said. “He’s going to be gone, but not forgotten.”

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Christ UCC, 309 Main St., Walnutport.