Jerome J. Turbak

Kranzburg, SD

1939, 2748, Pactola, F-4,

Jerome Turbak, 91, of Kranzburg, SD passed away Friday, May 16, 2014 in Sioux Falls. Funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Holy Rosary Church in Kranzburg with Father Kenneth Koster as celebrant, Father Robert Krantz as con-celebrant, and Eileen Lindner as the organist.

Visitation will be at Holy Rosary Church on Monday, May 19, from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary starting at 6:45 p.m. followed by a scripture service at 7:00 p.m.

Interment will be at Holy Rosary Cemetery, Kranzburg, SD. Military Honors will be conducted by Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion and SD Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team of Watertown.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren; Mike Turbak, Ryan Gaede, Mark Turbak, Beth Turbak, Meagan Turbak and Blake Wilkinson.

Jerome Turbak, was born December 14, 1922 to Albert and Anna (Schweinfurt) Turbak. As the second oldest of twelve children, he and his family resided in Kranzburg, South Dakota.

After graduating from Goodwin High School in 1939, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was assigned to the Black Hills. As a young truck driver, he helped build Lake Sheridan Dam.

In 1940-1941, he studied sheet metal in Watertown, South Dakota. He used that education in 1942 with his work for United Airlines at Cheyenne, Wyoming when he changed 30 caliber to 50 caliber machine guns on B-17 bombers. He then served in the Army Air Corps from October 18, 1943 until November 4, 1945. One of his greatest prides was his service as a cadet.

While in his military service he married Cecilia Zaug on October 5, 1944 in a double wedding with Melvin and Grace Turbak. Cecilia and Jerome were blessed with seven children, one being a miscarriage.

He became a partner in 1946 with his brothers in a local mink ranch. In addition, in 1947, he began work at Farmers State Bank in Kranzburg until his retirement in 1984.

Jerome and Cecilia lived in Kranzburg, South Dakota until they moved in 2010 to Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Jerome's loves were the Black Hills, conserving and beautifying the land and his yard, his faith, and being of service to his family and others. Almost every year he made a trip with his family to the Black Hills. In his estimation, no place was as beautiful as those Hills. He planted 40 acres of evergreen trees near Kranzburg, terraced the land, and built a wildlife pond for which he was honored with the South Dakota conservation award. He gardened and raised gladiolas which he brought weekly in the summer to beautify the church sanctuary. For 26 years he attended daily Mass. He co-chaired the building of the current Holy Rosary parish hall. For 50 years, on Memorial Day, he placed an American flag at each veteran's grave in Holy Rosary Cemetery.

Grateful for sharing his life are his children: Sister Andrea Turbak, OSF, Oakland, CA, Cheryl Houk, Brandon, SD, Kurt (Renae) Turbak, Sioux Falls, SD, and Lori Wilkinson, Webster, SD; daughter-in-law, Mary Turbak (widow of Joel), St. Paul, MN; twelve grandchildren; and fifteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cecilia Turbak, and his two sons, Joel Turbak and Neil Turbak.

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