Owen William Turk

Owen William Turk, the son of William and Edna Cartwright Turk, was born April 3, 1927, at his parents home near Atlantic, Iowa and died April 3, 2008, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 81 years.
     Owen attended Atlantic Community Schools.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army Cavalry in 1945.  During his tour of duty he served stateside until he was honorably discharged in 1946.  He returned to Atlantic where he worked several jobs.  He then was employed by the City of Atlantic at the Light Plant.
     On August 21, 1949, he was united in marriage to Lillian Walker at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, IA.  Three children were born to this union.  They lived in Atlantic, then moved south of Casey, IA where they farmed for several years.  He then was employed by the State Highway Commission and first worked in Casey, then transferred to Adair, IA.  He was one of the first ones to help construct and maintain Interstate 80.  In 1973 he moved to Audubon where he was a supervisor at Hamlin, IA and also later included Harlan, IA.  He moved to Exira in 1980.  He met Sandra Vaughan in June of 1983 and later they were married on January 12, 1996 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
    He worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation until in retired in 1991.  During retirement Owen enjoyed wood-working, caring for his lawn and pushing snow during the winter.  He helped deliver cars for Christiansen Motors for several years.
     Owen was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon where he served as a trustee.  He was a member of the Adair Fire Department and also the Audubon Post No. 120, American Legion.
      Preceding him in death were his parents and his brother Kenneth Turk.
      Survivors include his wife Sandra Turk of Exira, IA; his children:  Timothy Owen and Sherry Turk; Lisa B. and Greg Rochholz, all of Casey, IA; William Walker Turk and life partner Mike Janitor of Pittsburgh, PA; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren;   his step-children:  Thomas and Cathy Vaughan of Spencer, IN; LeeAnn and Paul Davis of Coon Rapids, IA; Douglas and Bonnie Vaughan of Oketo, KS; Sara and Blake Lanoue of Prescott Valley, AZ; 9 step-grandchildren; his sister Caroleen and Jim Butcher of Atlantic, IA; his sister-in-law Betty J. Turk of Adair, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, IA.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Monday evening at 6:00 at Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.