Kenneth R. Turk

Kenneth R. Turk

April 19, 1923 - February 15, 2021

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Obituary

MADISON - Kenneth Ream Turk of Madison passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at Nazareth House in Stoughton, Wis., where he had been living since July.  He was 97 years old.

Ken was born at home on April 19, 1923, to Ream and Mabel Turk.  He loved his memories of attending eight grades in the one room schoolhouse, Halfway Prairie.  He graduated from Mazomanie High school and went on to UW Madison where he took a short course in agriculture.  On May 27, 1943, he married the love of his life, Wilma Ketelboeter and they set up household in their first home on the Turk family farm, a 19 X 8-foot trailer for which Ken proudly paid $300 cash.  In 1948, they left the farm and moved into Mazomanie where Ken started his own trucking company.   

In 1951, Ken began his 36-year career driving semi-truck for L.C.L. Transit, earning multiple safe driving awards and clocking in over three million miles.  Driving truck involved a transfer of base terminal in 1955 to Mauston where the family lived for 11 years before transferring back to Madison in 1966.  In 1972, Ken and Wilma purchased the house of their dreams on Lake Monona after searching for it for six years.  Ken retired from L.C.L. in 1987 and he and Wilma spent many hours volunteering for many neighborhood projects, especially those involving Esther Beach.   Ken also did snow plowing after retirement.  Uncle Bud and Willie, as they were known to the family and friends, loved sharing their enjoyment of their home and special lake view on many occasions.

Ken enjoyed a multitude of pastimes: hunting, fishing, and boating especially during the Mauston years.  For several years there was a once-a-summer week-long family car trip to different parts of the country.  Just what a truck driver needed, more driving!

Ken became unable to navigate at home so in August of 2018 he moved to assisted living and in July of 2020 moved to skilled nursing.  Special thanks to Prairie Gardens in Sun Prairie, Nazareth Health in Stoughton, and Agrace Hospice for your help and caring.

Ken is survived by his wife of almost 78 years, Wilma; son, Jack Turk; daughter, Eileen Koch; grandchildren, Lori Winders and Robbie Benson; step-grandchildren, Dan (Jody) Koch, DeLynn (Troy) Sjodin and Dawn (Zack) Larsen; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Ream and Mabel Turk; father and mother-in-law, Henry and Erma Ketelboeter; brother, Donald (Ellen) Turk; sisters, Esther (Marvin) Niendorf and Deloris (Curt) Witte; son, Larry Turk; son-in-law, Frank Koch; and great-grandson, Ethan Larsen.

A combined service for Wilma and Kenneth will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Friends and family who wish to view the service via LIVE STREAM may do so by visiting Kenneth's obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and clicking on the Watch Webcast link at the time of the service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420





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Kenneth
JC
Joan Collins
Other •
Ken was way ahead of the nonprofit Clean Lakes Alliance which does a wonderful job of helping preserve our local lakes. Many years before the Alliance was formed, Ken would clean weeds along the shoreline of Esther Beach, next door to his home on Lake Monona. He spent hours with his rakes and shovels and he did this for several years. He volunteered his time so families could jump in the water and enjoy!
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Susan Crass
Other •
So sorry for your loss. We remember in our boating days coming to your house and had a lot of fun. RIP kind sir.❤ Ed & Sue Crass
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Verna Wallace
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My sincere sympathy to Ken's family. I believe Ken was the last surviving charter member of the Mazomanie Lions Club, and he holds a special place in all of our hearts for that. I recall my husband talking about how Kenny and Wilma were good friends with his parents, Hazel and Bob Wallace, when your family lived in Mazomanie. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Verna Hodgson Wallace Mazomanie
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Doreen Festge
Other •
Memories of Uncle Bud I only knew him some 75 of his 97 years but I do remember him being at our farm in my early years often and he and my Dad driving a snow plow or a big truck around. My real memories are of him driving the semi and we always would look for the LCL trucks when we were on the road – I don’t think we ever saw him. I remember going to a cabin on Lake Wisconsin and trying to learn to water ski. I felt badly because Uncle Bud would keep coming back to let me try again and again and having Eileen try to help me get up. But I never did. I do remember Eileen's leg getting caught in the tow rope with some injury and that was scary. Castle Lake near Mauston was highlighted by very fast rides in his powerful boat – I think he tried to make us afraid but we always just loved getting sprayed and going faster and faster. I think he gave up trying to have me learn to water ski. I remember as a child thinking how much he liked "Willie" – now I understand that as loved but I didn’t like her to be called a "boy’s or someone’s last" name. I was so glad to visit them in their house on Lake Monona – a perfect place for him to use his boat and enjoy all the Lake activities. How fortunate he was able to be there for so many years. He always was glad to see me and hear from me on the phone and that is the best memory. Doreen Festge, Niece
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Glen Grady
Other •
Ken and Wilma attended my wife, Cheryl, and my wedding that their son served as best man at 50 years ago this year. Over the years they always treated us like family when we stopped for a few hours or stayed for a few days to enjoy their hospitality and the lake. We enjoyed many days of fun and friendship with the Turks- no better host and no better friends. Just very caring, wonderful people. We were so lucky for Ken to have passed our way.

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