Wilbert A. “Bill” Kalk, born July 14, 1924, in Chicago, Il, passed away on June 30, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 62 years, Mary Kalk and his son, John. He is survived by four children, James Kalk of Edmond, OK, Eileen Cosco of Hacienda Heights, CA, Thomas Kalk of Lakeport, CA, and Gerald Kalk of Portland, OR. Bill was the proud grandfather of seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Bill grew up in Chicago and served as a combat infantryman in the 9th Armored Division in the European Theater of Operations. After three years in the service he returned to college and received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1949.

He spent most of his engineering career working on nuclear power projects in over 20 different power plants in New York and California. In 1978, he moved to Richland and opened Richland Engineering which he directed for 7 years. He returned to California in 1985, working as a consultant to RM Parsons and Holmes and Narver, his previous employers. In 1990, Bill returned to Richland to be with his son, John, who had contracted his second bout of cancer.

In Richland, he spent time volunteering for various organizations including Rotary and the Sausage Fest at Christ the King Church the early years. He was especially proud of his involvement in developing the Richland Community Center where he served as a board member as well as Chairman of the Community Center Advisory Committee.

A rosary and viewing will be held at Einan’s funeral home on Wednesday, July 13, at four o’clock until six o’clock. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, July 14, at Christ the King Catholic Church at ten o’clock followed by a graveside service at one o’clock at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.