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John Turnis
JOHN J. TURNIS
6/9/1924 – 6/2/2015
Manchester
John J. Turnis, 90, of Manchester, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2015 – one week shy of his 91st birthday – at Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood.
John was born on the family farm near Sand Springs, Iowa, on June 9, 1924, the eldest son of George Turnis and Eva Kramer Turnis. He attended Sacred Heart High School in Monticello and Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wis.
John and Mary Ann Jasper were married Nov. 16, 1948. Together they raised three children. They farmed all of their working lives, first near Hopkinton, and, since 1972, south of Manchester.
John was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. He served for 40 years on the board of Castle Grove Mutual Insurance. He drove a school bus for Maquoketa Valley Schools, and kids coveted a chance to sit next to him and operate the stop sign.
John loved farming, wildlife, bird dogs Duke and Ginger, who chased his tractor all day in the fields, cats, old country music, watching the sky to predict the weather, driving trips to the West and a good conversation.
In their younger years, he and Mary Ann glided across dance floors, waltzing and square dancing.
John was soft-spoken and warm hearted, and he always made time to visit with family and friends.
Survivors include son, James Turnis of Manchester; daughter, Jane Turnis, and her husband, Warren Epstein, of Manitou Springs, Colo.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Georgene (James) McGovern of Epworth; one brother, Clarence "Chuck" (Cheryl) Turnis of Elkhart Lake, Wis.; and three sisters-in-law, Marcella Turnis of Monticello, Francie Jasper of Hopkinton and Rosie Heims-Turnis of Cedar Rapids.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann; son, David; his parents, George and Eva; three brothers, Bob, Arnold and Adrian; an infant sister, Mary; sisters-in-law Betty Turnis, Betty Leibold, Bernadette Trenkamp and Mary Lou Schilling; and brothers-in-law, Emil Leibold, Larry Jasper and Ray Trenkamp.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 8, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, by the Rev. Joseph Schneider. Visitation: 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home, Manchester, with a Scripture service at 2 p.m. Interment: St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Manchester.
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