William M. Nurko, 80, passed away at The N.J. Veteran's Memorial Home in Menlo Park, NJ on September 12, 2024 after a courageous 14 year battle with dementia.  A hard working, strong, and well respected man, he was a lifelong resident of Nurko Road in his beloved Millstone Township, NJ.
He graduated from The Peddie School and Georgia Institute of Technology earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering and graduated as an Ensign after completing the Navy ROTC program.
In 1966 he began proud service to his country in The United States Navy.  He spent 22 years in the Naval Reserve earning the rank of Captain handling Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Planning.  His military service included two Western Pacific tours serving on the Destroyer USS Hanson (DD-823) as Main Propulsion Assistant.  His ship was one of many to provide gunfire support during the Vietnam War.
Bill was Vice Chairman of the Millstone Veteran's Memorial Council and spent many years organizing the annual Memorial Day Parade.  He was also a proud member of Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. and The Veteran's Coalition.  He visited many local grade schools to educate students on the meaning of flying a POW/MIA flag.
Bill served for seven years on the Millstone Township Committee, 16 years on the Planning Board, and served one term as Mayor. His wish was to guide Millstone in preserving farmland and open spaces for all residents. Bill had great respect for the agricultural environment of the township. He had an incredible love of working the land just as his grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles had done on Nurko Road. Bill's grandparents settled on this road after coming here from the Ukraine.
He spent 29 years with DeLaval Turbine in Trenton, NJ as a Manufacturing Manager.  Bill then spent six years with Conair Corporation in East Windsor as a Special Projects Engineer for two facilities in Costa Rica.
What brought Bill the ultimate joy was spending time with his family, friends and neighbors on Long Beach Island, NJ. He loved listening to the waves on the ocean and watching sail boats and sunsets on the bay.
Bill was a longtime active member of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Trenton, NJ.
Predeceased by his parents George and Anna K. Nurko, he is survived by his wife Clara; two daughters Christina Esandrio (Richard) of Monroe, Patricia Hulick (Kevin) of North Hanover; four grandchildren, Graciella Esandrio, Kali Esandrio, Sean Hulick, and Allison Hulick; three sisters, Georgia Poinsett of Dillsburg, PA, Mary Nurko of Blue Hill, ME, and Paulinea Johnson of Bethlehem, PA.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, September 18th from 5-8 pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St. Allentown, NJ. A Panakhyda service will begin at 7pm at the funeral home. Funeral Service will be held 11am on Thursday, September 19th at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 824 Adeline St, Trenton, NJ 08610. Interment will follow at 1:30pm at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to the Veteran's Memorial Council, 470 Stagecoach Road, Millstone, NJ 08510 or Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 824 Adeline Street, Trenton, NJ 08610.