Obituary John Tony “Turk” Turkovich

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, John Tony “Turk” Turkovich was born on November 24, 1926 in Mutual, CO. He passed away on March 9, 2016 in Walsenburg, CO. John served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Henderson. He loved his time in the Navy and often told stories of his exciting adventures such as Admiral Byrd’s expedition to the South Pole and his cruise to Australia. John returned to his Walsenburg home and after a short time working with his father in the local coal mines, began a long career with Dominic Leone Construction. John built lifelong friendships with many of his co-workers as they built roads throughout the state. He was a member of Operating Engineers for 35 years and retired from Leone Construction in 1986. John’s greatest love was his family. Together with Janice, his cherished wife of nearly 58 years, he raised a beautiful family. He is survived by his daughters Debbie (Mike) Morrow and Patty (Phil) West and his two granddaughters Jennifer Morrow and Emily West. He is also survived by his sister Josephine Turkovich. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, brothers and grandson, Sean Morrow. John’s love extended well beyond his immediate family to nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends. John will be most remembered for his exuberant personality. He was a friend to all, greeting everyone with a huge smile, a bear hug, a wet kiss, and a silly joke. He brought joy to those around him and was always willing to help those in need. He was a very loving and caring man who touched the hearts of many. The family wishes to extend their tremendous gratitude to the staff of the Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center in Walsenburg who showed great devotion to the care, comfort, and well-being of John and his family. Their love and kindness will be remembered always. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 9th, 11:00am at St. Mary Church in Walsenburg, CO with interment to follow at North St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made in John’s name to the Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center, 23500 US Highway 160, Walsenburg, CO 81089. Please send to the attention of Beth Martin.