Raymond C. Thuerk

Raymond C. Thuerk, 95, of Arlington Heights, died Monday, July 12, 2010. He was born June 25, 1915, in Evanston, Ill., to the late Charles and Frieda (Krey) Thuerk. By age 8, he was working in his father’s grocery store, and he went on to become the youngest store manager in Jewel Tea Company history, at that time, at the age of 23. After many years of working for Jewel in the Chicagoland area, he served as a dedicated deliveryman for Dean Foods and eventually for Hillfarm Dairy. A retired Teamster who was never one to stop moving, after retirement he worked for Fannie May candies in inventory control. He was a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, and had season tickets from 1939-1986, but he continued to watch and listen to every game from home. A regular at Arlington Park and member of the Twin Spires Club, he was a thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast with a flair for selecting winners. In recent years, he joined his fellow Woodfield Walkers five mornings a week to walk at the mall. Well-loved by his neighbors, he kept candy stocked at home to give away to his visitors. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Sarah J. Thuerk (nee Garrity) and second wife Lillian Thuerk (nee Savino), and siblings Edna Fritz, Dorothy Lass, Irene Miller, Carl Thuerk, Sally Lubecke and Norma Thuerk. Survivors include his children Gary (Judy) Thuerk, David (Christine) Thuerk, Carole (Raymond) Sweeney, Diane (Donald) Preus and Michael (Karen) Thuerk, as well as his sister Adeline Sundblad and his brother Ervin Thuerk. He was the beloved grandfather and great-grandfather of 17 and had numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday, July 18 from 3-8 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until time of the funeral service 11:00 a.m. at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Interment Saint Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine, IL.