William Turner

William Turner

September 06, 1940 - August 10, 2015

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Obituary

William “Bill” Lee Turner passed away at home on August 10, 2015. Friends may call from 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. Friday, August 14, 2015 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 P.M. with a time of fellowship and lunch to follow immediately afterwards. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the William “Bill” Turner Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

He was born on September 6, 1940 in Masontown, West Virginia to Russell and Opal (Malone) Turner. Bill graduated from Masontown High School in 1958. He attended West Virginia University where he majored in music. After graduating in 1962, he taught band in Shinnston, WV for three years. Bill met Mary Longhorn at WVU's music school, and they were married on July 27, 1963 in Platteville. They were soul mates for 52 years.
Bill and Mary moved to Platteville (Mary's hometown) in 1966. Bill taught junior high band and started the orchestra program in the Platteville Public Schools. Under his direction the orchestra program quickly grew, and he taught strings full-time at the middle school and high school levels until his retirement in 1995.
Bill is survived by two sons: Matt (Mary Van De Loo) and children Daria and Kaden Van De Loo, Appleton; Aaron (Sandra Tiemens) and daughter Maya Turner, Colorado Springs; and daughter Susan Redfearn and her children Thomas Farrey (fiance Nicole Wernimont), Alyssa and Dakota Redfearn, and Anthony and Nicholas McWilliams. Bill is also survived by two brothers: John Turner (Caroline) of Warren, OH and David Turner of Dellslow, WV and a sister-in-law, Carole Waterman and her husband, John Waterman of Omaha, NE.
Bill loved to travel, read, and showed a remarkable ability with his paintings. We will miss you. You were a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.

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GS
Ginger (Clark) Stephens
Other •
My sincere condolences to the Turner family. Always the consumate professional, he will be missed.
PJ
Pat and Tom Jonas
Other •
We appreciate the time Bill spent with our sons, both members of his orchestra in their high school years. An understanding of classical music, its structure and order, as a way of thinking had an eventual influence, we believe, on their career choices in mathematics related areas. Mary, and family, we are sure you have good memories to carry you through this difficult time, and please trust that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
RB
Rinda Bahr
Other •
Dear Mary and Family. We are sending our sympathy and prayers to you at this time. We were saddened to hear of Bill's passing. Having worked with both you, Mary, and Bill in the school district for many years, I feel that we have become good friends even though we no longer live close to each other. I have good memories (and funny) of you both. One of Bill that comes to mind right now is when our son Russ was in the strings program at the middle school and after a concert, Bill stopped to talk to our family and he patted Russ's head and Russ said "Don't mess up my hair or my Mom will kill you!!" Russ had a beautiful head of hair so as a mother "I" kept it perfect; however, Bill's actions made me realize that Russ could comb his own hair and never again did I comb it. I always walked our over weight, but wonderful, Golden Retriever past your house and had many world solving conversations and heard lots of jokes, some from me and some from Bill. May your wonderful memories sustain you and remain in your hearts forever. Bill will certainly be missed by many. Blessings to everyone. Rest in peace Bill. Thoughts and Prayers, Charlie and Rinda Bahr
CS
Carolyn Schuldt
Other •
Please accept my deep and sincere sympathy on Bill's recent passisng. I deeply regret I cannot attend his service as I will not be in Platteville until next week. I remember Bill from our chats enroute to my walking to library...he was always so cordial and we would discuss caregiving and other commonalities. I had the privilege of stopping at the home in early June when brother Michael (Carole/Ron's PHS classmate and Ron and Michael attended Badger Boys State together). He was fairly frail at the time but managed to say hello to me. thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of loss..my mother, the late Zelma Schuldt, also worked for Dr. Longhorn for many years when he was registrar. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Schuldt PHS 1960
JG
John Gerhardt
Other •
Thank you Mr. Turner for teaching me what it meant to be a musician. He taught me how to improvise and created in me a desire to play that still exists today. Mary and family please know that my prayers are for you and how greatly I appreciate how Mr. Turner (still have to call him that) was one who made me the musician I am today.
KB
Karen Brown Belanger
Other •
Mr. Turner you were my favorite teacher of all time. Maybe it's because I had you six years in middle and high school orchestra and jazz band, but I am thinking it has more to do with the music you brought into my life and your teaching that has stayed with me forever. Thanks for making me learn Viola late in the game! I wish I could have had the opportunity to tell you this before, but I am just hoping that you know it now. You will be missed and always be thought of. Your former orchestra flutist and violist. Karen

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