Robert Turnquist
May 26, 2014Share using:
Tamarack City: Robert L Turnquist, 89, of Tamarack City, passed away on May 26, 2014, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.
He was born on March 29, 1925 in Dollar Bay, a son of Leonard and Mary (Knechtges) Turnquist. He was a graduate of Dollar Bay High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radio operator in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he returned home to attend Michigan Tech for a time before he went to work on the Copper Range Railroad. Around 1950, he began work with the Houghton County Road Commission as an accountant. He retired from the Road Commission in 1987.
On August 13, 1949, he was married to Evelyn Lanctot at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hubbell. She passed away on December 29, 2004.
He was an active member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hubbell where he served on the Altar and brought communion to shut-ins. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the board of the Torch Lake Credit Union. He enjoyed his time on the computer and creating greeting cards. He supported many charities and he lived by the belief that if something was broken, it should be fixed rather than discarded.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, his parents, 2 sisters-Mary and Frances, and a daughter-in-law-Karen.
He is survived by: 7 children-Robert, Jr. of West Bend, WI, Michael (Marianne) of Sanford, MI, Susan (Hank) Switzer of Marquette, James of Tamarack City, Mary Ann (John) Bashaw of Cape Coral, FL, John (Shelby) of Chassell, and Alan of Tamarack City; 13 grandchildren-Dr. Len (Debra) Switzer, Stephen Switzer, Amy (Tim) Nass, Patricia Turnquist, Jennifer (Cory) Hostettler, Sara Switzer, Michael (Bao) Turnquist, Eric (Morgan) Switzer, Julie (Jim) Chuchvara, Rebecca (Brad) Butson, Kylee Turnquist, Angie Turnquist, Samantha Turnquist; great-grandchildren-Leonard Henry the 4th and Josie Switzer, Rilee, Brynley, and Hudson Hostettler; along with another great-grandchild due in June; a brother-George Turnquist of Kearsarge; sisters-in-law-Peggy and Fern Lanctot; and several nieces and nephews.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, May 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Linden with Fr. Francis Dobrzenski to officiate. Visitation will be from 6 Until 8:00 P.M. on Thursday at the Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden with a parish prayer service at 7:30. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Saint Joseph Church.
Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com