Robert Leroy Turner, 95, of Sorento, died Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 at Hillsboro Area Hospital.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Sorento. Visitation will conclude with Masonic Rites at 7 p.m. The funeral ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the funeral home. The Rev. Ralph Ward and the Rev. Jeremy Bundren will co-officiate. Interment with military honors will follow the ceremony at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento.
Mr. Turner was born Sept. 14, 1926 in Sorento, the son of Lawrence Clifford (Ted) and Mary Georgia (Warren) Turner. He attended school in Sorento and graduated from Sorento High School. He married Norma Lydia (Schweppe) Turner; they were married 62 years.
Mr. Turner worked at Burlington Railroad and Western Cartridge Company before entering the Army. After basic training at Camp Hood, TX, he headed for the Hawaiian Islands to join a large convoy bound for the South Pacific. He eventually ended up in Okinawa and was part of the unit that witnessed the surrender of the Imperial Japanese Army. He earned the rank of Private First Class before being honorably discharged. He returned home to Sorento and went to work for the Nickel Plate Raiload, then worked for Nestle’s in Granite City. He served as Adjunct Commander for American Legion Post 713 and was active at the Masonic Lodge in Sorento and the Scottish Rite Mason Valley in Belleville. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a Shriner, and belonged to Bond County Shrine Club where he was a past president.
Mr. Turner is survived by sons, Keith Turner of Winter Springs, FL, and Joel Turner of Sorento; daughters Penny Casey of Panama, Debra Jett of Sorento, Kathy (husband Chris) Atchison of Mulberry Grove, and Mary (husband Gary) Sugg of Sorento; grandchildren Kerry, Siobhan, Matthew, Tonya, Amanda, and Tabitha; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Norma; son Gary Turner, and his wife Nina; daughter-in-law Mary Turner; son-in-law Stanley Casey; and brothers David and Kenneth Turner.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shoal Creek Fire Protection District, or Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, FL. Condolences can be left online at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
