Julia Rose Turner
April 24, 2010
Our beloved “Aunt Ju Ju”, Julia Turner, 88, died of complications from heart surgery on Sunday, April 24, 2010 at 11:30 p.m.
Aunt Ju Ju lived a very full life. She was born in 1922 to Italian immigrants and married Ralph Turner in 1949. They began their married life in beautiful Walker, Minnesota and lived there for 50 plus years where they owned the well known “Turner’s Y Market” for many years before retiring. Aunt Ju Ju’s many nieces and nephews spent many summers with her. After Ralph’s death in 1990, she eventually moved to Des Moines to be closer to family. However, she tremendously missed her life-long friends and life in Walker, Minnesota.
She was very loving and giving of her time, as she spent much time with Anthony’s children after the death of their mother. She grew to be more than an aunt to them. She was someone that they could depend upon during their tender years of growing.
Aunt Ju Ju’s personality was known to be larger than life as she lovingly spoke her mind. She created much entertainment and joy in her family’s life as she was truly a “character”. Aunt Ju Ju will fondly be remembered with laughter, stories of her adventures, as well as with deep felt love. We will miss you Aunt Ju Ju, and know that you are at peace and with the loved ones you have sorely missed. We all love you! Go Vikings!
She is survived by her step-daughter, Sue Turner; grandchildren, Randy Turner, Renda Baker, Russ Turner all of Murray, Iowa, Raschelle Turner of Des Moines, Iowa; plus many, many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles, Arman and Anthony Mortale; sisters, Catherine Mortale and Josephine Scigliano.
Services will be Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Visitation will be held for 2 hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Walker, Minnesota.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Dorothy & John Johnson
05/08/2010
Our deepest sympathy to all of Julie's family. We have fond memories of Julie and Ralph at Turner's Y Market. For years our family looked forward to Spring when we would travel north to Leech and always stopped to see our dear friends before opening the cabin for the season. In more recent years we visited with Julie when she worked at Agency Bay. She was loved by many and will by dearly missed.
Suzanne (Turner) Williams
05/03/2010
I am sadden to hear of Aunt Julia's passing, but know she is now in a glorious place with our heavenly father. I attended her service last week and heard the many stories shared. My father, John (Jack) Turner, was Ralph's nephew and he had the good fortune of working for Ralph and Julie at the Y-Market and Roma Villa. In fact, it was because of the Y-Market that my mother and father met (he pumped gas) and eventually married. They moved to Des Moines shortly thereafter. We really only got an opportunity to see Ralph and Julia in the summer when we were visiting our grandparents (Clarence & Esther Hopen) who lived on Onigum Rd. We could hardly wait to stop at the Y-Market and pick out a treat. There weren't many Turners in Des Moines growing up and it made me very happy and proud to tell my friends there was a store with our name on it. I only wish we could have spent more time in Walker visiting Ralph & Julia. I do know many, many people in the Walker area know and love Julia as she made such a lasting impression on them. I am so sorry the years slipped by and I lost touch with both Ralph & Julia. I certainly would have enjoyed visiting Julia these last few years and learned more about the restaurant and tried to get a few family recipes for my collection. It was quite clear to me even as a young kid, she was a hard worker and loved to entertain. I know she will be greatly missed by all.
Sue Williams
1014 SE Lowell Dr
Ankeny IA 50021
Linda (Turner) Hledik
04/30/2010
My warmest sympathies to the stepchildren of Aunt JoJo.
I am a great niece of Aunt Julie and have many, many fond memories of visiting them during our summer stays in Walker. It was always such a thrill to stop by their Turner 'Y' Market and visit them. She and Ralph always let us pick out one thing from the store as a treat. It always seemed to take me forever to decide what to choose. Candy bar? Bottle of pop? Comic book? Teen magazine? It was always so hard to choose. I remember visiting them at their home as well.
She was always smiling and full of life.
My father, John (Jack) Turner used to spend his summers working at the gas station next door to the 'Y' market and that is where he met my mother.
I haven't seen Ralph or Julie since shortly after I became married, almost 33 years ago. I used to send them Christmas cards but lost touch with them through the years. How sad to now hear that she had been back in DSM for some time now. Oh how I wish I had known that. I would have included a visit to see her during my weekend trips to DSM!
It's nice to know that we still have Turner relatives living in DSM.
I'll be sure to let the relatives still living in the Walker area know that Aunt Julie will be buried there.
In Sympathy,
Linda (Turner) Hledik
DeWitt, IA