William Joseph O’Rourke Jr., 81 of Bucyrus, passed peacefully at home on Friday, April 18, 2025 following a brief battle with cancer.
He was born January 14, 1944 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late William Sr. and Ethel Irene (Minnich) O’Rourke. Bill was a 1961 graduate of Cincinnati Elder High School and shortly thereafter, began working in fingerprint classification for the FBI in Washington DC. In 1969, he completed his training through the OSHP and worked the Ohio Turnpike out of the Swanton Post until being promoted and relocated to the Bucyrus Post in 1976. He retired from the Ohio Hwy. Patrol in 1998. Bill then joined the Gahanna Police Dept., working as a court officer until 2008. He was proud to have served six years on Bucyrus City Council and has recently occupied his time by doing private security work.
In 2007 Bill married Veronica Jane (Hill) Bursby and they’ve shared many travels to warmer climates, with Jamaica being a favorite. They often socialize with friends and family and Bill simply enjoyed their time spent together.
Bill has always been athletic and involved in sports. He played baseball in high school and enjoyed playing men’s softball when he was younger. He’s bowled in several leagues over the years and golf has become his favorite sport to try and conquer. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Moose Lodge, Elks, Bucyrus Masonic Lodge, Bucyrus Shrine Club, Sons of the American Legion and Amvets.
In addition to Rona, his wife of 18 years, Bill is survived by children, Brad O’Rourke and Kelly O’Rourke; granddaughter, Keirsten O’Rourke; stepchildren, Christine J. Spears and Kimberly S. (Roy) Addison; step grandchildren, Nichole (Matthew) Buemi, Eric (Natalie) Butterman, Macey (Matthew) Cotter and Jonathan Royce “JR” (Stevi) Addison.
Visitation for Bill will be held from 4-7 pm Thursday, April 24 at Wise Funeral Service, where Funeral Liturgy will begin at 11:00 am on Friday with Fr. Paul Fahrbach as celebrant. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.
If desired, donations can be made payable to the Humane Society Serving Crawford County or a charity of the donor’s choice. These gifts will be accepted through the funeral home and expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on his guestbook page at www.wisefuneral.com.
