Cover photo for James Thomas Turner, Jr.'s Obituary
James Thomas Turner, Jr. Profile Photo
1946 James 2015

James Thomas Turner, Jr.

November 4, 1946 — June 11, 2015

James Thomas Turner, Jr., 68, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at a local hospital following a brief illness. Born on November 4, 1946, in Muscatine, IA, he is the son of the late James Turner and Arlene (Owens) Turner. Jim was raised in Davenport, IA, where he graduated from Central High School. Following a year at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Jim was selected to attend and later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he met Virginia (Ginny) Witte, whom he married on January 24, 1970. During his military career, Jim was commissioned into the United State Marine Corps, received both his Army and Navy flight wings, and rose to the rank of Captain in the Marine Corps. Jim also faithfully served as a CH-46 helicopter pilot and flight instructor during the Vietnam Era doing search and rescue missions. While stationed in Kailua, HI, Jim earned a Master’s of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He later accepted a position at Procter & Gamble in Green Bay, WI, where he worked as an engineer for 24 years until his retirement in 1999.

Shortly after his retirement, following complications from bypass surgery, Jim received a heart transplant at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. He was very grateful to his surgeons Drs. Tector and MacDonald and the young man who was his donor. Jim became a strong advocate for organ donation as a result and became a donor himself.

Jim was a very active volunteer and was named Volunteer of the Year at the N.E.W. Zoo where he tended to giraffes and tiger cubs and dressed up as animals and other characters for holidays at the zoo. He also volunteered as a YMCA youth swimming instructor. In addition, he headed the building committee for construction and expansion of Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church, where he had been a member for many years serving as both treasurer and chairman of the board.
This year, Jim published his first book, a work of fiction called “Hobo Jake: The Ghost of the N.E.W. Zoo” and was in the process of writing two other books. Jim’s other hobbies included reading, fishing, collecting stamps and coins, and mastering Sudoku.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Ginny “The Red Head” Turner; two daughters, Stephanie Turner, Madison, WI and Tracy (Chris) Gillespie, Green Bay, WI; grandson and “little buddy”, Sam Gillespie, Green Bay, WI; brother, Tom (Mickey) Turner, Davenport, IA; sister-in-law, Eileen Witte, Baltimore, MD; and brother-in-law, Aaron Witte, Annapolis, MD. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

While Jim’s family is very saddened by his passing, they are grateful that he had previously survived serious injuries following a helicopter crash and also heart transplant surgery.
A visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 15 at Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church, 450 Laverne Drive, with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Pastor Curtis DeCoste. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Malcore Funeral Home is serving the family.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established for the benefit of the N.E.W. Zoo.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Thomas Turner, Jr., please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, June 15, 2015

9:30 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church

450 Laverne Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311

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