William Giles Geurts

William Giles Geurts was born on September 18, 1939, to Charles and Margaret Geurts. He and his older brother, Art, grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He passed away on November 8, 2026. He married Mary Murphy on June 25,1958 and had 2 children, Jeff and Liz. Later divorced. He married Karla Raye Helquist on July 3,1970, and had one daughter, Mindi. He was also a great stepfather to Kim. Bill and Karla shared 39 wonderful years together.

Bill graduated from South High in 1957. He attended the University of Utah majoring in Sociology and Psychology. He obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work. After graduation, he served in the Army in Fort Hood, Texas. After his service there, his professional career began. He worked in Ogden as a probation officer in the First District Juvenile Court. He later transferred to the Salt Lake County Welfare Department. In 1973, he went to work at the University of Utah. As a professor, he taught substance abuse counseling at the Western Region Alcoholism Training Center. In 1976, he was employed with the Utah State Division of Alcoholism and Drugs where he worked for the remainder of his career.

Bill was involved in many sports as a youth, but particularly handball. He won his first handball tournament, Utah State Jr Championship in 1954 at 14 years old. He also won the intercollegiate title when he was a Junior in high school. In 1958 he won his first Utah State Open Championship. He would go on to win many more local, state, and regional handball tournaments in his lifetime. He was a great mentor to up and coming handball players. He was the first inductee into the Utah Handball Hall of Fame. His memorial plaque hangs on the first handball court at the Sports Mall in Salt Lake City.

Bill was a member of the Taylorsville 8th ward LDS Church. He served his neighbors and friends, and always willing to help his wife, Karla, He gave himself the title of “First Man of the Relief Society”.

He is preceded in death by his precious wife, Karla, and son Jeff, parents, brother Art, and great grandchildren, Cole and Lou. He is survived by his children, Liz (Ken), Kim (Jerry) and Mindi (Merret). His grandchildren, Kaylee (Chase), Kelsee (Cam), Khloee (Dallas), Kassidee (Ethan), and Hannah. And his great grandchildren, Mason, Cru, Luca, Cody, Lyla, Graham, Scottie, and Ozzy. He will be greatly missed!

The family would like to give a special thanks to his friends at Summit Vista and Independence Home Health and Hospice. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 16th, 2026 @ 11:00 a.m., with a visitation prior to service at 10:00 a.m. Services will be held at Taylorsville 8th Ward (1495 West Tamarack Road). Interment at Valley View Memorial Park (4335 W 4100 S). Directors Independent Funeral Service.