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Mary E. Turner, 84, of Waukon died Sunday, September 28, 2014 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, October 1 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
Mary Emma Turner was born September 24, 1930 on her parents’ farm in rural Monona. She was the daughter of Christian and Emma (Kiester) Levenhagen. She was baptized at home and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona. Mary graduated from Monona High School; after school, she waitressed at the Corner Café in Monona.
While at a dance in Guttenberg she met Milton Turner; they married June 11, 1950 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona. In 1953, the couple lived and farmed in rural Allamakee County, where Mary also raised chickens. Mary was a busy homemaker. Besides raising seven children, she did a lot of baking and canning, gardening, and sewing and quilting. She baked cakes for others for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions. In 1986, she and Milton moved to Postville, and then in 1990, they moved to Waukon, where they have resided ever since.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, where she was involved with WELCA. While living in Postville, Mary taught Sunday school and also participated in WELCA at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Mary belonged to the Henderson Prairie Study Club. Mary was very talented and artsy; she enjoyed crocheting, knitting and painting with watercolors. She also liked tending to her flower gardens. Mary loved sheep and collected many sheep-related items. Mostly, she will be remembered as a great mother and wife, grandmother and mother-in-law.
Mary is survived by her husband, Milton, of Waukon; her seven children, Craig (Ruth) Turner of Iowa Falls, Richard (Celeste) Turner of McGregor, Brenda (Alan) Steffens of Clermont, Dennis (Nancy) Turner of Postville, Randy Turner of Placerville, CA, Mary Beth (Steve) Snitker of Postville, and Debra (Neal) Horns of Postville; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; one brother, Harvey (Jolena) Levenhagen; and four sisters, Helen Harbach, Darlene (Marvin) Miller, Edna (Chuck) Patrick and Agnes Tessar.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Donald Levenhagen; and three sisters, Lavina (Frank) Timmerman, Margie (Burton) Schlein and Lillian Eldrith.
Honorary casketbearers are Mary's grandchildren.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.