BOYD BRUCE TURNER 1919-2006
MILL, TURNER, BRUENE, GROSS, HUMPAL, TODD, KERR, BRANDT
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/15/2006 at 21:08:46
Boyd Turner
Funeral services for Boyd Turner were held Monday, January 23, 2006, at Community Presbyterian Church, Postville, with Rev. Gary Catterson officiating. Inurnment was in the Eno Cemetery, rural, Luana. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.
Boyd Bruce Turner was born November 15, 1919, on the family farm south of Luana, Iowa, to Harry Nichols and Mary E. “Mae” (Mill) Turner. He passed away Thursday, January 19, 2006, in the Mayo Medical Center at Rochester, Minn., at the age of 86.
Boyd graduated from Postville High School in 1937. Although he contracted polio August 9, 1936, he lived a full life of service to his family, his church, and his community. He was first employed by Benzing’s Radio Repair shop in Monona. It was there that he learned the insurance business. In 1945, he started Turner Insurance in Postville. In 1946, he was offered the position of Secretary/Manager of The Postville Telephone Company, a position which he held for more than 40 years. During that time he saw the telephone industry grow from the party line system with operators, to the switchboard, and eventually to the cell phone and digital system. Boyd was instrumental in bringing cable television to Postville.
June 14, 1947, he was married to Merle Bruene in the Postville Community Presbyterian Church, where he and Merle were both members. To this union five children were born.
During the more than 86 years he lived in the Postville area, Boyd was employed, briefly, by the Postville Creamery and later by the Gunder and Frankville Cheese Factories until they closed. He provided music for the Postville School dances and kept time for the high school basketball games. As secretary for the Big Four Fair Board, he chaperoned teen dances at Dreamland Ballroom.
Boyd belonged to Postville Community Presbyterian Church for more than 70 years, where he sang in the choir for over 40 years, enjoyed the fellowship of the Mariners, served on the Session, the Board of Trustees and as Sunday School Superintendent.
In the community he was a member of Kiwanis, the Order of Odd Fellows, and a 50-year member of the Brotherly Love Lodge, which he served as Grand Master. He served for many years on the Iowa State Board of Independent Telephone Companies
Boyd is survived by his wife of more than 58 years, Merle; four children; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren: Bruce and Sherilyn of Queen Creek, Ariz., and daughter, Sarah (Lance) Turner and their daughter, Carly, and his son, Nathan (Joie) Turner; Doug and Shelley, Forest City, Iowa, their daughter, Jessica and son, Joseph; Marilyn, (deceased) and David Gross of Whitehall, Pa., her daughter, Karith (Greg) Humpal and their daughter, Kaitlyn; Kent and Joanne of Bloomington, Minn.; and Sandra Todd of Winona, Minn., and her sons, David, Marcus, and Michael.
Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Eileen Eunice Turner, and many nieces and nephews
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Marilyn; his son-in-law, Owen Todd; two brothers, Harold Turner and Dale Turner; and three sisters, Joyce Kerr, Lois Brandt, and Ruth Turner.
Waukon Standard, January 26, 2006
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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