Marvin Turner

Marvin J. Turner of Boise, Idaho, passed peacefully with his family at his side on September 16, 2016, four days short of his 69th wedding anniversary. Born October 14, 1926, to Marvin C. and Lorena Turner at his grandparents’ house in Boise. Marvin graduated from Boise High School in 1944. Like so many others of the “Greatest Generation”, he joined the Navy upon his graduation and soon discovered what war was like in the Pacific Theater in 1945, at sea on the USS ATA 184, an ocean-going tug, and on land in the Philippines, driving supply trucks.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Marvin met his life-time mate, JoAnn Dudley. Married on September 20, 1947, not long after her graduation from Boise High, Marvin and JoAnn produced two girls and two boys. In the 1960s, Marvin spent time in the US Coast Guard Reserve learning handy boating skills that would serve the family well, later.

For more than 30 years, Marvin worked for Idaho Power, the majority of the time in its accounting department. He soon learned well the lesson that all work and no play is not much fun. An avid sportsman, Marvin thoroughly enjoyed hunting, fishing, trap-shooting, motorcycling and, of course, boating. A lifetime member of both the Owyhee Motorcycle Club and the Boise Gun Club, Marvin taught his daughters to water ski and his sons to race motorcycles. Through these activities, he instilled in his children the importance of the concept of family and of doing fun things together.

Marvin is survived by his wife, JoAnn Turner; his daughter, Patrice (Pat) Petrie and her husband, Gordon of Emmett; son, Ival Turner and his wife, Jodi of Boise; son, Joe Turner and his wife, Lahoma of Boise; and son-in-law, Bruce Parker of Boise; along with 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Joe, his sister, Alene Sielaff and his amazing daughter, Pamela (Pam) Turner Parker. He is also preceded in death by his nephew Martin Sielaff, who joined the Navy and became an accountant, just like his uncle Marv.

Interment with Military Honors for Marvin’s ashes will take place at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery on Horseshoe Bend Road in Boise at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 22, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to do something nice for the military veteran of your choice and to let them know that Motor Machinist Mate 3rd Class Marvin Turner appreciated their service and sacrifice.