It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Lynn Turnbull into the hands of his Lord and Savior at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday February 16, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Gary was born on August 14, 1947, in Marshalltown, lowa, to George and Verlo (Pettit) Turnbull. At an early age, he moved with family to Sioux City, Iowa, where he attended Sioux City Central until his senior year, when the family moved to Burlington, lowa, where he graduated from Burlington High School in 1965. He joined the US Army where he served in the Vietnam War from 1966-1968. In 1970, he married Linda Olomon and they later divorced. From this union, came one son, Michael (Theresa)Lowary, Burlington, IA. In 1976, he wed the love of his life, Karen Eid in Dallas City, Illinois. From this union came two children: one son, Shaun (Amber Symmonds) Turnbull of Fort Madison, lowa, and one daughter, Shana (Rod) Sanders of West Point, lowa.
Gary was an active member of Fort Madison Christian Church, serving as an usher and greeter. Gary previously worked for 15 years at the Fort Madison Jacks Discount Store as a department manager, and then relocated to the Jacks store in Muscatine, lowa, where he was the Store Manager. He and his family then moved back to Fort Madison where he worked for Service Master and later Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, in which he retired in 2009. He was a past President of the Green Bay Chapter of the Izaak Walton Club and was a member of the American Legion Hall Post 668.
Gary was an avid bowler and bowled in 40 National Bowling Tournaments around the country,several State Tournaments, and multiple Travel and Local Tournaments. Gary served as past President and held various other Board positions on the North Lee County USBC Association. He was inducted into the North Lee County Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
Gary shared his love of bowling with his family, coaching his children for many years. He also coached them in baseball and softball. He even endeavored to coach his wife, sisters-in-law, and their cousins in the City/YMCA slow-pitch softball league years ago. Gary’s greatest joy was being with his family. He loves his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed following their many sports, school, and musical activities. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and rooted for the Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears.
He loved being outdoors, and enjoyed playing golf and traveling with his family and good friends. He loved sharing his travel stories especially about all the great places they ate, the delicious food, and the interesting people they met along the way. Gary never knew a stranger.
Gary was known for his extensive beautiful Christmas village collection of over 600 pieces that he assembled and illuminated every year in his living room for his family, friends, and the community to enjoy. He also collected pop/beer bottles/cans, of which many would show up in his yard dropped off by friends, family and neighbors. He tirelessly spent many hours sorting through these cans/bottles in his garage to prepare them for hauling to the Hope Haven redemption center in Burlington to collect the deposit refunds for donating to TurnBowl Lanes & Grill in West Point to support bowling scholarships for young bowlers. He was also known to drive a few extra miles from home to get the best deal on gas prices. Gary will be remembered for his sarcastic wit, playful teasing and great story telling.
Gary lost his battle with liver cancer after a three-year roller coaster ride of suffering and perseverance as he dealt with multiple illnesses culminating from his COVID-19 shot, then contracting COVID-19, then getting the booster, and once again contracting COVID-19.
Everything went downhill from there as Gary developed upper respiratory infections, viral pneumonia, severe digestive issues, loss of appetite, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, E-coli, pancreatitis, an inoperable pancreatic mass requiring multiple stents, short term memory loss, a heart attack requiring double bypass surgery, severe weight loss, not to mention all the pain and discomfort and many sleepless nights that accompanied all of these ailments, and then came his final diagnosis of stage 4, inoperable liver cancer on December 30, 2024. This was a long three-year journey for Gary as he went from being as healthy as a horse before getting his COVID vaccines to being sicker than a dog after getting those injections.
Gary is survived by: his wife, two sons, and one daughter. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Austin Lowary, Kayla (Tyler) Bundy, and Cayden Lowary of Burlington, IA; Krysta Young, Reiburn and Reilynn Turnbull of Fort Madison; and Mason, Bianca and Skyler Sanders of West Point, IA; and seven great grandchildren: Kara, Lila, Maizy Bundy, Ryker, Jaxson and Harmony Landrum, and Aeliana Lowary. Gary is also survived by: two sisters, Myrna (Jan)Galbraith and Terri (Steve) Crowley of Burlington, IA; two brothers, Raymond (Jenny) Turnbull, Cleveland TN, and Robert (Cheryl) Turnbull, Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law: Debbie Eid, Vickie Smith, Kathy (Jerry) Geissler, Donna (Ron) Lippy, and Linda Eid-Woelfel, and brothers-in-law: David (Jeannie) Eid, and Kenny (Rosie) Eid; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by: his parents, grandparents, father-in-law, Fred Eid, mother-in-law, Retta Eid, sister-in-law, Ruth Eid, brother-in-law,Jeff Woelfel, and nephew, Raymond Eid.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 4-7 PM at King Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, February 21, 2025 with Chuck Gorsch officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Gary's name to Fort Madison Christian Church, Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch or Lee County Hospice. Online condolences to the Turnbull family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website:wwwv.kinglynk.com. Rest in peace, Gary. Your journey here is over and you are now safely in the sweet hands of your Lord.
