Donald Duain Turbot (1922 - 2012)

TURBOT, HANNAM, DONAGHT, SCIESZINSKI

Posted By: DJ Scieszinski
Date: 2/24/2016 at 19:11:34

OBITUARY

Don Turbot of Russell, Iowa, logged his final flight on February 29, 2012 as he broke the mortal bonds and set his course for an eternal reunion with his beloved wife Jean, who preceded him, and with his Divine Maker.

The second of three sons born to Hilton and Meryle Turbot, Don was born and raised in Russell, and he spent the last three decades of his life on the family farm just west of town. Don and his older brother, Rod, were an adventurous team that made go-carts, rebuilt and rode motorcycles and later, flew their own airplanes.

Don attended college for two years before enlisting in the service during World War II and serving as an aircraft mechanic. He later returned to active service during the Korean War. After his service, Don and Rod owned and operated an airport north of Chariton that catered to the local aviators.

Don met Rosemary Jean Hannam at a local dance. He was duly impressed by her beauty and her intrepid spirit. He liked to tell how Jean was the only woman he knew who could hop a barbed-wire fence in high-heels and a tight skirt and jump into the cockpit of his plane as they flew off on dates.

Don and Jean were married in 1948, and of their union, three children were born: Clee of Omaha, Nebraska, Steve of Lafayette, Colorado, and Jeff of Topeka, Kansas. His family was raised in Nebraska where Don worked most of his career in insurance management. Each summer of those years, the family towed their house-trailer and vacationed in nearly every state of the Union.

Don was an avid outdoors man who loved flying, traveling domestically and abroad, camping, hunting, boating, and especially fishing. Most of all, he was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a patriotic citizen who was active in services to his community. He helped with the construction of Russell's band shell and the community center, and he made numerous contributions to the Russell Museum.

Don was respected and appreciated for his integrity and sense of humor by all who knew him.

Don is survived by his brothers, Rod (Coty) and Larry (Ellen), daughter Clee, sons Steve (Pam) and Jeff (Roxanne), grandchildren, Flannery, Brace and Addison, sisters-in-law Dorothy Donaghy of Ankeny, IA, Dolores Scieszinski of West Des Moines, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

SOURCE: 2012 On-line Obituary