William Fred Nork, Jr.

January 4, 1926 - April 26, 2021

William Fred Nork, Jr., age 95, passed away on April 26, 2021. William was born in Chicago, IL on January 4, 1926, one of eight children born to William and Charlotte (Genz) Nork. He was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL on January 17, 1926 and confirmed in his faith in Jesus on March 15, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church in Summit, IL. He married Charlotte Hermann on June 29, 1946. William and Charlotte were married for 74 ½ years. Will was a loving husband to Char and their two daughters Susanne and Wendy. He thought the world of his family. Will was able to finish 2-1/2 years of high school at Loretta-Draper High School in northern Wisconsin before he was needed to help financially support the Nork family. He worked at a variety of jobs throughout his working career. From his earliest years, Will knew the meaning of working hard. He was considered the mechanic of the Nork family. Among some of the jobs he held before retirement, were farm worker and milkman along with his Pa driving an electric truck, laundry truck pick up and delivery with his father-in-law, car-knocker (seal inspector) for a Chicago railroad, Ford mechanic, gas station attendant, school bus driver, and finally retiring as a telephone lineman/switchman, ending a 37 year career with GTE. His list of ways he served his church is about as impressive as his list of paid jobs - these included janitor, grounds and maintenance keeper, church council member, elder, treasurer, secretary, choir member, Bible Class student, and an active member of St. Croix Lutheran High School start up committee. Always helping out with whatever the need, both Will and Char were busy throughout their retirement years. A highlight of those retirement years was the building of a log home which would serve as a tangible legacy to their daughters and families. Of course, it was their faith in Jesus which they lived out every day of their lives that was the most important legacy they gave to their family. William is preceded in death by his wife Charlotte, his parents, three sisters and their husbands, three brothers and their wives. He is survived by two sisters and one brother-in-law. He is also survived by his two daughters Susanne Hanson (David) of Manitowish Waters, WI and Wendy Liesener (Thomas) of Anchorage, AK; six grandchildren - Rachel (Hanson) Halldorson (Wayne) of Mt. Pleasant, TX, Thomas W. Liesener (Lydia) of Kunming, China, Reid Hanson (Brenda) of Fayetteville, NC, Christa (Liesener) Phelps (Ted) of Anchorage, AK, Rebekah (Hanson) Savage (Tom) of Brighton-Hove, England, and Zoe Liesener, Anchorage, AK; and seven great grandchildren - William Halldorson, Hosanna Halldorson, Avery Hanson, August Hanson, Emma Phelps, Samuel Liesener, and Daniel Liesener. A Graveside Service for Will and his wife, Charlotte will be held on June 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Cemetery of the Pines in Boulder Junction. A Memorial Service will also be held for Will and Charlotte later in August 2021 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Minocqua.