Patrick Nelson Turner, 84, of Gladwin passed away surrounded by family at his home in Gladwin on Friday, Jan. 27.
He was born on December 1, 1938, in Glendale, South Carolina to Leoma Ford and James Turner. He moved with his mother from South Carolina to Michigan and attended Gladwin High School before meeting the love of his life, Joan (Kotwicki) Turner at the dance hall “The Music Box” in Houghton Lake. They were married 62 years.
He spent many years at the local A & P and then as Produce Manager at Stewart’s Foodland before retiring. He also served his community by working at the Gladwin Cemetery as landscaper. Patrick loved music and played guitar for the band the Main Street Misfits until his health declined. He loved coffee with the guys, lifting weights, golf, tennis, softball, painting, westerns, butter beans and cornbread, a well-done burger, cookies, and candy. He was known for his beautiful lawn and his building skills, as well as his vocal and passionate support of local sports and for U of M Football. He was also known for his cheeky sense of humor and delivering the same joke to each person who visited until he learned the next one.
The greatest loves of his life were his wife Joan and six children, Brian (Andrea) Turner, Theresa (Julian) Quezada, Robert (Geri) Turner, Michael Turner, Chari (Scott) Hillier and Mary (Tim) Gajda. He had 19 grandchildren, Jacob, Hanna and Abby Hillier; Matt, Marissa and Alexandria Turner; Tyler (Kelli) and Allison Lemke and Joseph, Jeremy and Tyler Quezada; Olivia and Grace Turner; Kayla (Cory), Nick (Kelsey), Lauren and Lexi Turner; Ciara (Travis) Harris and Bernice Gajda as well as great grandchildren Lily Hillier, Amelia Harrison, Lillianna and Everleigh Quezada, Camryn Harris and newborn Graham Turner.
He leaves behind siblings Linda (Lynn) Morgan, Pam (Mike) Corlew, Selena Ford and Candy Turner as well as many nieces and nephews, in-laws and his dog, Winnie. He joins his parents, James and Leoma in heaven, his grandson Jordan Hillier, as well as his beloved cat, Boots and his dog, Dolly.
He told his wife Joan how beautiful she was until his last days and the family requests that anyone reading this takes time to tell their loved ones the same.
A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11 am with Father David Parsch presiding. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023, from 10 am until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Wounded Warrior Project and Gladwin County Animal Shelter.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Lee-Ramsay Funeral Home-Gladwin Chapel.
