M. Dennis Turner

The soul of M. Dennis Turner returned to God who gave it on January 26, 2022 at his home in Danville. He was born August 9, 1932 at Indianapolis, Indiana to A. Martin and Beulah Radebaugh Turner. Dennis was preceded by his parents, his brother Dale (Jackie), and twin babies Norman and Norma. His Mother instilled in him the Christian and family values that guided his life. He learned from his Father the importance of good craftsmanship and a job well done, and after his father left this life and they could no longer work together, he realized that 'YOU NEVER STOP FARMING WITH YOUR FATHER'. Lessons learned from his father remained for the rest of his life. He is survived by his wife Mabel, whom he loved more than mere words can express. He is also survived by his sons Robert (Robin) Turner and Steven (Tara Bray) Turner and daughter Donna Carrigan, grandsons Chris (Katie), Tyler, and Travis Turner, granddaughters Kayla (Alex) Rosdail, Kelsie (Tyler) Cunningham and Lacey (Aaron) Fessler, and great-grandchildren Hayleigh and Hayden Fessler and Myla and Austin Cunningham. He also leaves behind his good friend Jerry Edwards and several nieces and nephews. His children and grandchildren all made him immensely proud. He said that they seemed dedicated to making the world around them a better place. His request is that they do not mourn his passing longer than necessary. His grade school years were spent at a one-room grade school three quarters of a mile west of his home. He then attended Danville High School. After graduation, he attended Danville Junior College and Eastern Illinois University. He then served his country in the Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he returned to the family farm to work with his father. Before the end of his first year home, he suffered the loss of his mother in a tragic highway accident that also hospitalized his father for the next three months and confined him in his home for several more months of recovery. Suddenly, Dennis was the steward of the family farm. And thus, he and his wife Mabel assumed the work and responsibility of the family farm. Mabel was always there for him with her help and support. He often said, 'It requires a special woman to be a dairy farmer's wife'. He expanded the farm's dairy herd and became more involved with Prairie Farms Dairy, the cooperative through which the farms milk production had been marketed for several years. He was later elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Prairie Farms Dairy and served for twenty-one years, he also represented Prairie Farms on the Illinois American Dairy Association board of directors. During this time, he was asked to serve on the Vermilion County Farm Bureau board. He was asked to serve on the building committee for the new Vermilion County Center for Agriculture when it was built. He and all of the board members and staff put in many hours of manual labor to make this project a reality. He was a member of Farmers Chapel Church and endeavored to serve his Lord and Savior and his church in any way that would glorify God. As the Building Fund Treasurer and Trustee Chairman, he especially wanted the church building's appearance to always Glorify God. Since the church is on a sharp curve in the road, he stated 'you do not just drive by Farmers Chapel Church, because as you approach it; "it confronts you;" you are looking at it, and-- it is looking back.' He was also a member of the Robert Wurtsbaugh Chapter of Korean War Veterans Association, serving on the honor guard as they honored veterans by conducting military funerals. He thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and reminiscing with his fellow Korean War veterans when they got together after these services. They also would get together many Saturday mornings for breakfast. He was one of three Blount Township citizens to be appointed as trustees of the Blount Township Water Authority when it was organized in 1994. He had served as secretary of the Water Authority Board, since his first appointment, recording the minutes of the monthly meetings and taking care of the Water Authority permanent file. Dennis believed he was fortunate to earn his living doing what he loved, which was farming the soil of the Sesquicentennial Family Farm. He endeavored to use conservation practices that would leave the farm better than when he began his tenure as its steward. He enjoyed sharing the farm with those unfamiliar with farm life. During the years that he had a dairy herd, several hundred Danville school children toured the dairy operation and learned firsthand where their school milk came from, and how milk was used to make ice cream, Eskimo pies, chocolate milk, and cheese for their pizza and many other dairy goodies. He allowed several sportsmen the opportunity to hunt the land for wild turkey and whitetail deer. He just asked that they let him know when they were going to be on his farm. He firmly believed in this quote from Henry Ward Beecher, a dramatic and eloquent Presbyterian minister: 'There is a distinct joy in owning a piece of land, unlike which you have in money, in houses, in books, in pictures or in anything which men have devised. Personal property brings you into society of men, but land is Gods estate in the world, and when a parcel of land is deeded to you, and you walk over it, and call it your own, it seems as if you had come into partnership with the original proprietor of the earth.' He has fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith. - II Timothy 4:7 The family of Dennis would like to extend many thanks to the Bismarck Ambulance Service, Illiana V.A. Medical Center, Carle Hospice, and the Hawthorne Inn for the wonderful care provided. A special thanks to Evelyn, Jodi, and Carrie. Memorials in Denniss name may be made to Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund or to the Shriners Children Hospital. A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2022 from 2:00pm until 5:00 pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center located at 3940 N. Vermilion St. in Danville. A funeral service celebrating Denniss life will take place on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10:00 am at Farmers Chapel Church at 414 Poland Road in Danville. He will be laid to rest with military honors at Johnson Cemetery in Danville.