Germaine I. Turner

LIVESTREAM SERVICE:

Germaine's Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on "Watch now."

MADISON - Germaine Ida Turner peacefully passed away on July 1, 2026, at the age of 93, surrounded by the love of her family. At 3 p.m., the Hour of Divine Mercy, she left this earthly life and entered the loving arms of God.
 

A devoted Catholic whose unwavering faith touched everyone who knew her, Germaine’s passing on July 1 holds special significance within the Catholic Church. The day has traditionally been observed as the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and is also the liturgical memorial of Saint Junípero Serra. For someone who could have taught a master class on faith, it seems only fitting that she was called home on such a meaningful day.
 

Germaine was born on October 12, 1932, in Madison, Wis., to Edwin and Olva Yelk. She graduated from Sun Prairie High School and later attended Madison Business College. She dedicated her career to serving others, working for the State Medical Society, General Casualty Insurance, and Murphy & Desmond Law Offices, where she faithfully served as a bookkeeper for 39 years.

Germaine will always be remembered as someone who consistently placed the needs of others before her own. She was a true servant of the Lord whose faith was reflected in the way she lived each day. She lovingly handcrafted hundreds of rosaries for family and friends, knitted blankets, booties, hats, and mittens for the babies of unwed mothers, and created beautiful prayer shawls for the elderly and those in need of comfort.
 

She found joy in life’s simple blessings. She cherished her garden, and her grandchildren will forever treasure memories of picking raspberries alongside her during summer visits. Genealogy was one of her greatest passions, and she took immense pride in preserving her family’s history. Her grandchildren also fondly remember countless afternoons spent creating arts and crafts together. She enjoyed audiobooks, music, sharing meals with loved ones, and even a cold beer from time to time.

If you were fortunate enough to know Germaine, you were truly blessed. She possessed a gentle spirit, a kind heart, and an unwavering generosity that put everyone else first. Her infectious laugh could brighten any room, and she never wanted to miss an opportunity to gather with family, celebrate life’s moments, or simply enjoy the company of those she loved.

Germaine is lovingly survived by her six children: Dan, Debbie (David), Chris (Mike), Lori (Bob), David and Jeff (Darla). She was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren: Lindsey, Kyle, Colin, Kevin, Christopher, Eric, Jessica, Matthew, Alyssa, Jackson, Kennedy, Ethan, and Devan. She was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Miles, Izabella, Wyatt, Rylan, Jack, Brooks, Ryan, Teddy, and Kira, with another great-granddaughter expected in August, along with many more generations she dreamed of meeting. She is also survived by her cherished Mary’s Prayer Group at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, whose friendship and shared faith meant so much to her. She also leaves behind her faithful four-legged companion, Ajax, whose loyal presence, unconditional love, and constant companionship brought her comfort and joy throughout her later years.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Earl; her parents, Edwin and Olva Yelk; her brothers, Joseph, Cyril, and Bernard; and her granddaughter, Kelsey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at QUEEN OF APOSTLES PARISH, ST. PETER CHURCH (Madison), 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, with Father Gary Krahenbuhl presiding. Family and friends who wish to view the Mass via LIVESTREAM may visit Germaine’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the Mass and click on "Watch Now" in the Webcast section. Entombment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday.
 

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Father Gary and Father Michael for their unwavering spiritual guidance, prayers, and compassionate support during Germaine’s final days. They also wish to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Lyndsey Runaas, Dr. Orest Kostelyna, and the dedicated staff at SSM Health/Dean Health for the exceptional medical care, compassion, and kindness they provided throughout Germaine’s journey.  The family is also deeply grateful to the extraordinary staff at Agrace for the exceptional care, kindness, and support they provided to both Germaine and her family throughout her time in hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the Macular Degeneration Research Foundation, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

When asked what she believed Heaven would be like, Germaine simply replied, “It’s more beautiful than you can ever imagine.” Today, we find peace in knowing she has experienced that beauty firsthand and was welcomed through Heaven’s gates into the loving embrace of her Lord and Savior.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420