Reinhold "Ronnie" P. Gurke, 91, of Merrimack passed away on Monday, January 31 ^st , 2022 at his home after a period of declining health.

He was born in Oceanside, NY on December 26 ^th , 1930 to the late Reinhold and Katherine (Klenk) Gurke. He was a graduate of Carson Long Military Academy in Bloomfield, PA in 1949 and received his associate's degree from State University of New York in New York City in 1952.

Ronnie served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 serving some of that time in Germany. It was soon after that he and Lillian were engaged and then married on September 23 ^rd , 1956.

Over the years, Ronnie owned and operated several restaurants, while living in New York. He owned Beyer's Confectionary on Long Island from 1958 – 1965, Fresh Meadows Steak Pub in Queens, NY from 1965 – 1976 and finally Harbor Inn from 1976 – 1992 in Halesite, NY. Ronnie then retired and eventually settled down in Viera, FL in 1995 until 2016 when they moved to Merrimack, NH to be closer to family.

He will be forever loved and missed by his loving wife of 65 years, Lillian (Watkins) Gurke; two daughters, Kathleen Field and Karen and her husband Steven Yeaton; two grandchildren, Johnathan Yeaton and Jaclyn Yeaton and her fiancée Tyler Nichols. He was pre-deceased by his son-in-law Joel Field, of Derwood, MD in March of 2021.

In accordance with the family's wishes, there will be no services.  For those who wish, memorial contributions in Ronnie's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alzfdn.org