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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of James L. "Jim" Turner of Garden Prairie,
4who passed away on December 16, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Turner was born in Belvidere on May 21, 1930
6to Lloyd J. and Ruby Turner; he attended a one-room school
7house before graduating from Belvidere High School in 1948; he
8married Marilyn J. Murley on September 30, 1951 at First
9Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, where he was also a member;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jim Turner was a dairy farmer, living and working
12his entire life on his family's Centennial Farm; he started
13Turner Equipment Sales, where he worked alongside his cousin,
14Gary Turner for many years; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Turner gave back to the community by his
16service as a State officer of F.F.A; he was a founding member
17and President of Boone Co. Ducks Unlimited Chapter, the 4-H
18Garden Prairie Grasshoppers, and the Boone County Historical
19Society Museum, where he was the "Big Dipper" at the annual Ice
20Cream Social; he also served on the Boone County Community
21Foundation board and was a recipient of the Belvidere Chamber
22of Commerce Distinguished Citizens Award in 2013; he was a

 

 

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1member of the Farm Bureau and a Bonus Township Trustee and
2Lawrenceville Cemetery Trustee; he also served on the board of
3the Conservation District and was a member and supporter of the
4Boone County Granges; he was a former board member of the Boone
5State Bank and served on the Belvidere School Board, following
6the tornado of 1967, as well as during the construction of
7Funderburg Stadium; he and his wife hosted the Boone County
8Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast, and, along with Jack and Peggy
9Wolf, donated "The Babysitter" statue located at the Boone
10County Fair Grounds; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jim Turner loved his family; he enjoyed his time
12baling and selling hay, the Boone County Fair, and raising
13Welsh Ponies; he was an avid Belvidere Bucs and Chicago Cubs
14fan; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Turner was preceded in death by his parents
16and his sister, Shirley Craig; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Jim Turner is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his
18children, Teri (Rock) Keegan, Lori Turner, Julie Turner, and
19Nancy (Mike) Hearn; his sisters, Marlene Smiley and Beverly
20Gibson; his grandchildren, Kelli (Ben) Knaup, Dustin Turner,
21Danielle Turner, Stacey (Scott) Barnes, Ali Hearn, and Luke
22Hearn; his great-grandchildren, Emma Knaup and Sam Knaup; his
23cousins, Gary (Ann) Turner and Giles (Bunny) Turner; and

 

 

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1several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4James L. "Jim" Turner, and extend our sincere condolences to
5his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Jim Turner as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.