Earl Temerowski

Affectionately known as "The Earl of Wickenburg", Earl Valentine Joseph Temerowski passed away peacefully at his home in Wickenburg on Aug. 28, 2019, at the age of 84.



Earl was born May 15, 1935, to Victor and Viola (Jenson) Temerowski in Hamtramck, Mich. Following Viola's death, when Earl was 14 years old, he and his younger brothers were placed in Boysville orphanage. Earl fondly remembered his formative years at Boysville where he built friendships and memories that would last a lifetime.



During his teens, Earl met Harold Ruhl and started working with horses and in farming. Earl built a herd of 50-some horses which he used for the saddle club and horse program at Boysville. He and Harold shared a 1952 Ford farm truck; Harold used it to haul grain to market and Earl used it to haul horses. Harold owned the truck, and it remained in Michigan until this past spring when it was relocated to Wickenburg, where it will remain in the family.



Earl left Michigan in 1956 to join his sister and brother-in-law, Junior and Dolores Hershkowitz, in Wickenburg. He worked for Wickenburg Country Club and helped Junior with the family business. In 1958, Earl was drafted in the US Army and served at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Michigan where he met Godela Vogt at a family picnic.



They were married May 11, 1963, and started a family while living in the Detroit area.



Earl worked at the Archdiocese of Detroit, Society of Mary Reparatrix, as a maintenance engineer and boiler operator. He was a member of the Boiler Makers Union.



In 1976, Earl and family moved to Wickenburg where he bought Grey's Appliance. He later changed name to Earl's Appliance, and was in business for about 33 years. He worked for ADOT in the 1980s and '90s while continuing the appliance business.



Earl loved Wickenburg and demonstrated that repeatedly throughout his lifetime. He served on the Wickenburg Volunteer Fire Department for 21 years; was a member of the Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus.



When Locomotive 761 was moved from Stone Park to its home on Frontier Street, Earl was there to see the job was done right. In his final act of love for his community, Earl orchestrated enough funding to build a shelter over the locomotive and install interpretive signs to make it a lasting and memorable tourist attraction. Earl also served as a volunteer at the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce visitor center, and he was honored to have been named Grand Marshal of the 2019 Gold Rush Days Parade (although his health prevented his appearance in the parade.)



Earl will be fondly remembered for his no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Walter, Howard, Robert, Clarence; sisters Dolores (Junior) Hershkowitz, and Barbara Anikewich. He is survived by his wife Godela of Wickenburg; daughters Christine (O'Jay) Vanegas of Anthem and Brenda (Jim) Hershkowitz of Wickenburg; son Edward Temerowski; grandchildren Michael McCracken, Jamie (Sarah) McCracken, Ashley (Chad) DeWitt, Scott McCracken, Kelsey Hershkowitz, Ada Viola Temerowski; great-grandchildren Landon McCracken, Dawson and Brady DeWitt and Summer and Colt McCracken; brother Richard and brother-in-law Ron Anikewich, sister-in-law Marcy (Marsha) Temerowski, and many nieces and nephews in the Temerowski and Hershkowitz families.



Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Wickenburg with reception to follow at Coffinger Park Ramada. Inurnment will be in Wickenburg Cemetery.