Erwin "Turk" Thurkettle

Erwin L. D. "Turk" Thurkettle was a vigorous, fun-loving man who was faithful to his family, his friends, and his country. He treated life like a great adventure to enjoy and explore whether at work or at play. Always hard working, yet equally attentive to his wife and children, Turk exhibited true manhood as a caring husband, loving father, and trusted friend. Erwin or "Turk," as he was always known, was born at a time when America was emerging from the first World War and regaining industrial strength. Charles Lindbergh made his historic transatlantic flight and Henry Ford and his automobiles put Detroit on the map. Far from any major urban center, in the Upper Peninsula town of Onota, Michigan, Erwin Thurkettle was born to L.D. and Wilda Dianne (Short) Thurkettle on January 17, 1922. Sadly, Turk and his brother Leslie lost their mother when she died in childbirth. Their father shuffled his young family from place to place as he tried to support them through his work as a commercial fisherman. In time they settled in Muskegon, Michigan on the end of Little Black Lake. Turk's father remarried, and his new wife, Marian, added another boy to the family, with her son, William. The house on Little Black Lake remained the family home throughout Turk's life. Like many young men of his generation, Turk left school to find work to help support his family. When he came of age, he joined the military and fought in WWII as a Marine Master Technical Sergeant in the Pacific Theater. When he was honorably discharged from active duty, Turk returned to Ludington, where he had lived for a time, and worked in a chemical plant. When he met a young widow whose husband had been killed in the Battle of the Bulge, he knew the sacrifice and sorrow they had been through. Francis Hill Newlin was left to raise her young son on her own. Mike was just a toddler when Fran and Turk met and fell in love. When he and Fran married, Turk adopted Mike and raised him as his own. The day of Turk and Fran's wedding, April 5, 1947, was memorable for many reasons. A relative had brought a very old school bus to drive all the wedding guests around. What fun they had! But, it was also cold and snowy. Fran complained that she had to wear boots with her beautiful wedding dress, and their honeymoon consisted of going home to do laundry in her snow boots! However, the weather did nothing to dampen their joy that day, nor on the day of their 60th anniversary, in 2007, when it was also cold and snowy! Turk and Fran moved their family to the home on Little Black Lake in Muskegon and, in 1949, were blessed with the birth of their daughter Wilda Dianne. Turk supported the family through his work at Shawbox Crane where he was employed as a skilled assembler and welder. In the 70's, he was made supervisor and continued in that position until his retirement in 1984. Turk also did welding work for St. John's and, for over 50 years, he plied his trade as a gunsmith. That meant that Turk was extremely busy from the end of August through the end of hunting season with his gunsmithing business. Yet despite being such a hard worker, Turk was an excellent father. He always took time for his kids and had the patience to answer any question they had. The attention Turk gave to his family was expressed in the words of his daughter, "My dad always made me feel so cared for, very loved and protected." Turk's son remembers the fun times he and his dad had together on the dunes of Lake Michigan, traveling around with friends, or shooting target practice. They often went "jeeping" on the dunes and then camped the night in a trailer on the back of the Jeep. The family also took a memorable trip to Alaska with their good friends and neighbors, Archie McDonald and his wife. The trip lasted six weeks, and for the entire time, they tented and cooked on a Coleman stove. With his friend Archie, Turk also became involved in the Masonic organization. Not only was he a member, Turk served as president of Lovell Moore Lodge #182 and was a 33rd Degree member of Scottish Rite Consistory of Grand Rapids. He was very active in the Masonic order and could be relied upon to help with any project. Being a Mason fit Turk's character. The square and compass, the symbol of the Mason, represents each member's commitment to live by a moral compass that is straight and true. That was how Turk lived his life. "He was so moral, so decent, and so upright," daughter Wilda reflects when talking about her dad. Turk was also determined. Because he had to leave school at an early, it bothered him that he had not graduated from high school. So when he was in his 60's and still working, he went back to school and got his GED. Turk was so proud of that accomplishment. To those around him, it served as yet another virtue to model. Turk's ingenuity was a source of pride and enjoyment, even in his leisure time. Because he lived close to Oak Ridge Golf Club, Turk took up an interesting sideline business. Turk couldn't wait to get on the course, not for his golf game but for golf balls! He collected lost ones. No matter how neat he looked when he headed for the course, he came home a mess because his ventures took him well off the fairway to find lost balls. Once home, Turk cleaned them up, put them in egg cartons, and sold them on the honor system for $4 a dozen. Once in a while, one of his customers would remark that a certain ball was their's. Turk would ask, "Did you lose that ball?" and if the answer was affirmative, he'd say, "Then you buy that ball." When Turk retired, he and Fran did some traveling. They went to Florida for a number of years, but when Fran developed health problems, they stayed closer to home. In 2001, their daughter Wilda's husband Ken died very suddenly and unexpectedly. The loss was very hard on Turk emotionally, and it worsened Fran's condition. In 2006, Fran became more debilitated by Alzheimer's disease and Turk, whose own heath was excellent, cared for her with deep love and attention. It was only in the fall of that same year that his own health started to decline. In the spring of 2007, Turk was still in his childhood and lifelong home on Little Black Lake when he passed away on May 2nd. The life of valor, dignity and joy that Turk lived is the legacy he leaves to his loving family and cherished friends. Mr. Erwin L.D. "Turk" Thurkettle, age 85, died at his beloved home on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. He was born in Onota, MI on January 17, 1922 to L.D. & Wilda Dianne (Short) Thurkettle and married the former Frances Hill on April 5, 1947. Mr. Thurkettle had been employed as a skilled assembler, welder and later as a supervisor at Dresser Industries for 42 years until retiring in 1984. Turk served his Country as a Master Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Marines during WWII in the Pacific Theatre. Turk worked long & tirelessly for the Masonic Organization. He was past Master of Lovell Moore Lodge # 182 & 3rd Degree member of Scottish Rite Consistory of Grand Rapids. He was a devoted & loving husband, father, grandfather & friend who cherished his home on Little Black Lake. Turk was a gunsmith for over 50 years and had a deep love of fishing, hunting & the outdoors. He lived a humble life-took care of his own, saw no reason to suffer fools and satisfied himself with his corner of the world. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Frances; son, Michael (Laurie)Thurkettle of Huntington Beach, CA; daughter, Wilda James of Grand Haven; 4 grandchildren, Barbara (Tim) Moran of Ravenna, Jedediah Thurkettle, Nicholas Thurkettle both from Huntington Beach, CA, Margaret Thurkettle of Costa Mesa, CA; 2 great-grandchildren, Jessica & Joseph Moran; brothers, Leslie (Betty) Thurkettle of Grand Haven, William Thurkettle of Walhalla, MI. Services for Turk will be held Saturday, May 5, 2007, 12:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Rev. Sarah Samuelson officiating with the Masonic Blue Lodge Memorial at the beginning of the service. Interment will take place at a later date at Lake Forest Cemetery. You may visit with the family one hour prior to the serivce at Clock Chapel-Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Michigan Masonic Home Charitable Foundation. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life Story- Muskegon