Willam A. Buerkel

WILLIAM ADAM BUERKEL, aged 80 years, beloved husband of Peggy (nee Berger) for 56 years, dear father of Nancie, David (wife Terry), Laurie Lamb (husband Roy), and Robert (wife Molly), loving grandfather of Lisa Kinnard, William and Dustin Buerkel, Austin and Emily Lamb, and Alec, Jane and Maggie Buerkel, great grandfather of Kyla and Parker Kinnard, and devoted brother of Jack and the late Dave.

Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Japan Occupation, and then graduated from Case Institute of Technology, B.S.Ch.E, 1952. He was a Trustee of the Case Alumni Association. He retired from General Electric after 37 years as a Tungsten Metallurgist. Bill received US Patents for developing a Green Strength Tungsten powder and a Fluidized Bed Process for Preparing Tungsten Powder. He was a 50 year member of ASTM and received the ASTM Distinguished Service award in 1999 and 2006 and was Chairman of the Subcommittee B-9.09 U.S. Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC119 on powder metallurgy for 27 years. He took on new product development and application responsibilities from pilot through full-scale production for all sizes of refractory metal powders sold by GE throughout the world. During that time, he also operated his own business producing and selling worldwide, a particle size analyzer instrument for fine powders, WAB Instruments.

His real pride and life was his children and wife.

Contributions in memory of Bill suggested to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119; or to Church of the Good Shepherd, 23599 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst, OH 44124.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 at Church of the Good Shepherd at 11:00AM. The Family will receive friends at a reception following the services.