Joe Turner

(From Countryside Funeral Home)

Joseph (Joe) Gale Turner
June 30, 1925-December 19, 2023

Joe was born on June 30, 1925, to Earl and Mary Elsie (Shoemaker) Turner in Lamar, Missouri. He attended schools in Lamar until he was 17. Soon after he enlisted in the Navy during WW2 in 1943. He went by train to Farragut, Idaho for boot training. He was sent from there to San Francisco, then shipped out of Oakland, CA on November 23, to New Guinea for 11 months. Returned to the states to Rhode Island and sailed on the now retired U.S.S. Bremerton back to the Pacific, Theatre of War until 1946. He then received an Honorable Discharge and returned to Chanute, KS.

Joe married after he returned and had 3 daughters. He worked at Ash Grove Cement Plant from 1951 until he retired in the 80’s driving the Super Dump trucks. In 1966 he married Laura Mae (Weeks) and raised her 2 sons and daughter. Joe loved his whole family. He also loved God very much too. Joe prayed every night with his wife for their family and friends and he continued even after his wife passed. He was very passionate that people knew about God and His love for them.

Joe was a very generous man and loved helping his church family and anyone that needed help. He chopped wood for people, fixed broken things in people’s houses and did whatever he could.

Joe was very good at carpentry work and built many things for his wife and family. He also enjoyed fishing when he could. His life is full of stories which cannot be read here.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Earl & Mary Turner, two brothers, Jack and Robert Turner, two daughters, Kathy Turner and Mary Lou Turner and his wife Laura Turner.

Joe has 1 brother still living, David Turner of Lamar, Missouri.

He has 2 sons, Gary (Julie) Starr of Grantville, Ks; David (Natalea) Starr of Chanute, Ks. He has 2 daughters, Gale (Carlton) Scarlett of Gardner, KS and Vicki (James) Conley of Austin, Co. He has 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Joe has had a very fulfilled life for over 98 years.

Services will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 10:00 am at Chanute Church of the Nazarene, with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Chanute Honor Guard. Monetary gifts can be given to the Chanute Church of the Nazarene in Joe’s honor. Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.