Eugene Robert Turk

KINGSFORD — Eugene “Gene” Robert Turk was born on Dec. 11, 1935, in Kingsford, Mich. to John D. and Bella E. Turk. He had a wonderful younger sister, Alice Ann Tuomela that preceded him in death.

He was an athlete all of his life, even becoming the Upper Peninsula singles tennis champion representing Kingsford High School.

With his father, he spent many hours at “camp” hunting and fishing.

He met his true love, Gwenyth Loy Brown in their senior year of high school. Gwenyth, hailing from the rival Iron Mountain High School. They both went off to college, Gene attending and graduating from the General Motors Institute. Shortly thereafter, they were married in August of 1957 and remained for 62 1/2 years.

After being drafted to the Army in 1959 and stationed in Germany until 1961, they settled in to their married life in Grand Ledge, Mich. Gene finished his military career with the National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1964.

After too many snow-filled winters, the Turk’s headed west and settled in Phoenix in 1965. Gene had a wonderful career with several manufacturing companies as their general manager, ultimately retiring from Auer Precision in 1997. Known to those who loved and revered him as “Mean Gene,” that was only a façade as he was a big teddy bear on the inside!

Gene was dedicated to his family. He loved his three children and their spouses, Sherry and Roger Simon, Mark and Debbie Turk and Jay and Janet Turk. He was a role model to and adored his four grandchildren, Cory and Jordan Simon and Ashleigh and Alison Turk. He will be greatly missed by his nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Gene was a sort of “Renaissance Man!” He was the PTA president for Maryland Elementary School, Phoenix, Ariz. and was a charter member of the Arizona Ducks Unlimited Chapter and ended up as a Lifetime Member Emeritus.

If he wasn’t home “cleaning” or doing yard work, he was either on the golf course or on a lake fishing! Gene ended up “shooting” four “Hole in Ones” over his lifetime of golf! His favorite fishing spot in Arizona was Becker Lake in Springerville, Ariz.

Gene will be missed by many who loved him, especially his many friends at their Springfield Community of over 20 years. The folks at the Pine Grove Country Club in Iron Mountain, will miss his quick wit and endearing smile.

After being diagnosed with Alzheimers, Gene wasn’t “himself” and after suffering from a blood infection, Gene passed away peacefully on April 24, 2020.

In lieu of a memorial, family will gather at a later date at Becker Lake where we will dedicate a bench in memory of a great man, husband, father, grandfather, friend and fisherman. Tight lines, dad! We love you!

Donations are being accepted in Gene’s memory at the Arizona Game and Fish Department: https://www.azwildlifehero.com/support-us/make-a-donation or to Alzheimer’s Association: https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=42249&mfc_pref=T&42249.donation=form1 or to Gwenyth for the memorial bench: (In Memory of Eugene “Gene” Turk, Gwenyth Turk, 1255 E. Indian Wells Ct., Chandler, AZ 85249-8781).