William R "Dick" Turner

William Richard “Dick” Turner, 87, of Kimball, Michigan, died Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at home attended by family members. He was born February 28, 1933 to the late William and Elizabeth Turner.

“Dick” to all who knew him, was a fixture in the Port Huron/Marysville area. He attended Marysville High School where he was Captain of the football team, Vice President of his senior class and won the heart of his future wife, the late Phyllis June Lents. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in late January 1953, was a boot in the Special Training Battalion, 10th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, and trained as an Intermediate Speed Radio Operator. He served at the end of the Korean War, being stationed in Germany, leading a squad of wiremen and reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was honorably discharged in January of 1955 and returned to Michigan. He married Phyllis June Lents on July 4, 1955, who passed away August 13, 1982.

Dick met Dorothy Lorelei Phillips in 1983 and they married April 15, 1989 and were devoted in love to each other until Dick’s passing this week.

Dick took over the family business from his father in 1970 and was the owner/operator of Turner Electric, Inc. in Sparlingville, Michigan (now Kimball, Michigan) until retiring in 1995. Dick had a hand shake relationship with bankers, Beard & Campbell, and many other local businesses, was liked and respected.

Dick was passionate about hunting and trap shooting all of his adult life. He volunteered and ran the Blue Water Sportsman’s Club trap division for years, serving much of that time with his wife, Dorothy. Both had trap fields dedicated to them for their years of service. Dick was well known in trapshooting circles, serving for years on the Michigan Trapshooting Association (MTA) Board and as MTA President for several years as well as the American Trapshooting Association President. Dick has been recognized often, being inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of fame in 2005, presented with a diamond ring for a perfect 300 game in a sanctioned bowling tournament, recognized shooting 300,000 registered targets by the MTA, and a world record for the largest black bear taken with a black powder rifle. He was an avid fisherman as well who enjoyed fly-in fishing at Lake Kabinakagami (aka, Kaby Lake) for 40 consecutive years with his lifelong friends, called the Crazy Eight Crew, Bob Biewer, Dick Biewer, Ron McKinch, Nels Bargeman, Tom Valentine, Ted Curtis, Don Upleger, and Dick.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his two children, Patrick Turner (Patricia) and Richard Turner (Lori); his step children, Sandy, who dad loved as his own, (John), Linda, and Steven (Debbie); two sisters, Joanne Czeiszperger and Janet Demick; grandchildren, Ryan, Julia, Jacob, Britta, Billy, Haleigh, Jacob, Sam, Sarah, Sean, Erin, Nicole, Dylan, Matthew and Anne; and great grandchildren, Jedediah, Gwyneth, Avery, and Oryn. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his daughter, Kim; former wife, Phyllis; and two sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” McCauley and Lois Hernandez.

The family wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to the McLaren Hospice staff, specifically and especially, Christa, Sandy, Olivia, Jessica, Jenny, Will, Chelsea, and Trae.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2021 and Friday, January 15, 2021 in Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. A limited number of people will be allowed in at a time. Please wear a mask for the safety and comfort of others.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2021 in St. Christopher Catholic Church. The Reverend James Arwady will officiate. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army and the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Patrick Turner, Ryan Turner, Jacob Turner, Sam Stephenson, Sean Phillips and Tim Stephenson.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com