Cecil Eugene Turner was born at his parent’s farm home on April 28, 1918 at Russellville, Arkansas to Edward and Mary Bowden Turner. He graduated from Russellville High School in 1936.

He attended Bible School in Enid, OK and became an ordained minister in the Assembly of God Church in 1942.

On February 14, 1939 Cecil was married to Clara Steele of Hartford, Arkansas.  In the early years, he was an evangelist, then pastored churches in Arkansas and Oklahoma before becoming pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Council Bluffs in 1954.  He pastored in Council Bluffs for 11 years, and then moved to Bourbonnais, IL to become Administrator of Hallmark House, a nursing home in Bradley, IL.  After retirement they remained in Bourbonnais until moving to Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake in June of this year.  Cecil died there on Tuesday, September 9.

Surviving are his wife of 69 years, Clara; son, Jerry, and his wife, Jan; daughter, Carole Hall and her husband, Don; grandchildren, Philip Turner, Lynnette Schultz (Scott), Jody Jenness (Greg) and Tara Rabenberg (William); 9 great grandchildren and one brother, Bill Turner.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Bessie May, in childhood and 2 brothers, Rayburn and Eroll.

IN MEMORY

Cecil “Gene” Turner
April 28, 1918    September 9, 2008

SERVICE
Turner Funeral Home
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Friday, September 12, 2008   1:30 PM

CLERGYMAN
Rev. Phillip Epperson

MUSIC
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Bob Floss, Keyboard
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Amazing Grace
Tara Rabenberg, Soloist
Jody Jenness, Accompianist

PALLBEARERS
Don Chaffin               Gary Koelling
Don Eckard                   Mark Leiss
Dennis Koelling    Owen Primavera

INTERMENT
Okoboji Cemetery
Arnolds Park, Iowa