John Edward Turner

John Edward Turner, 81, of Highlands Ranch, CO., passed away peacefully with his wife, Denise Jane Turner (Brudwick) at his side on October 30, 2023 in Centennial, CO.  John was born to Eugene and Margaret Turner (Dubuque) in Queens, NY on February 11, 1942 and was raised in Brooklyn. During high school he moved to Florida, graduating from Sarasota High School in 1959. He enlisted in the US Air Force that same summer. He retired as a MSGT after 20 years. His career that took him across the world to include New Mexico, Greenland and England in a variety of career fields; boom operator, technician and recruiter. In England he met Jane Victoria Steel-Jessop, mother to his children. It was recruiting where he found his calling and did that the last fourteen years of his career. He retired from the Air Force in the Denver area and remained here the rest of his years. He founded BTK (Brown, Turner and Krakowski) with his two best friends, eventually evolving to Professional Search and Placement. His life was defined by service: whether it was to family, country, church or business he always worked to make things better.  He had an infectious personality that everyone loved. It is what made him so successful in life; when you talked with him – you were the most important person in the world. Besides being a devoted family man and businessman, he cherished his friendships. Every life milestone found him making new friends, and when there wasn’t an opportunity then he created them be it through golf clubs, a friendly game of cards or sitting on his HOA’s board. He could not sit idly by, always trying to make things a little bit better for those around him. It was this same enthusiasm that drove his love for travel. There was never a time he wasn’t driving across the US towing a trailer, touring Europe on land or sea, golf weekends or just visiting family and friends across the country. His was the epitome of a full life, never a dull minute. 

John, a devoted husband, father, brother and friend is survived by his wife Denise, daughter Sally (Roger) Serena (Turner) and step-daughter Irene Van Cleave, sons John Jr (Renee), Andrew (Andraya), and Michael (Elena). His grandchildren Ryan (Sienna), Jordan (Megan) and Logan Serena, Austin and Dylan Turner, Justin (Sarah) Bate, Brayden, Grace and Allison Turner and Brandie (Jorge) Silva. Also his two great grandchildren Colbie Jane, daughter of Ryan and Sienna and Jorge III, son of Brandie and Jorge. His brothers and sisters; Jane (Jack) Russell, Eugene (Vicki) Turner, Agnes (Ed) Czarnecki. He was preceded in death by his parents Eugene, Margaret and Catherine, and siblings Lynn, Joe and Tom.

There will be a Recitation of the Rosary on November 13th at 4:30pm at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass for family and friends at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Denver on Tuesday, November 14th at 11:00am. He will be interred at Ft. Logan National Cemetery during a private ceremony. Donations in lieu of flowers requested to be sent to First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains Junior Golf, 3181 E. 23rd Ave. Denver, CO 80205, https://firstteecoloradorockymountains.org/ or the charity of your choice.