Constance B Turner

1931-2026

Connie Turner passed away in October 2026 at the age of 95 at home in Eagle River, WI, changing her residence to heaven to be with her husband and the Lord Jesus Christ. She was born Constance Gabriel in Newark, New Jersey and in her first fourteen years moved fourteen times. She met her future spouse, Richard “Dick” Turner, in high school in Brewster, NY. Connie received a scholarship to study nursing at Mount Sinai School of Nursing in New York City. She took care of patients ranging from displaced persons/refugees coming from post-WWII Europe to the New York elite as well as a young actor named Tony Curtis starring in his first movie. Married in Washington, DC, then-President Harry Truman would be walking outside and would greet her and other riders at times as her bus stopped in front of the White House on the way to her work at the George Washington University Hospital.

Connie and Dick moved to Wheaton, IL to attend Wheaton College. Life intervened and she had three children while working as a nurse at Geneva Community Hospital and later as a nurse and medical-surgical nursing administrator at Central DuPage Hospital for many years. She loved caring for people and did so in many ways throughout her life. She and Dick were active at the Wheaton Bible Church and later at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago as urban missionaries in addition to their regular work. They also worked with inner-city children, senior citizens, and international students through the church and taught English as a Second Language to new immigrants in their home. After her children left home, Connie returned to school, completing her BA and MA in nursing from Northern Illinois University and PhD in education (nursing) from University of Illinois at Chicago.  She taught nursing at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. Connie was an active gardener and loved the outdoors. She and Dick traveled extensively in the United States as well as to a number of countries in Europe, plus Israel, Turkey, India, Taiwan, China, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The couple spent 18 summers working at Wheaton College's Honey Rock Camp in Three Lakes, WI teaching education majors in the outdoor education program and grew to love the area.

After 44 years in Wheaton, Connie and Dick retired to Eagle River, WI and were actively involved in the Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church, in a number of outdoor conservation committees, and with the Three Lakes Food Pantry. Connie was outgoing, loved to laugh and enjoy life, music, ethnic foods and have an occasional glass of wine. She loved flowers, chocolate and ice cream, traits she passed on to her children. An avid reader and life-long learner, she remained engaged with world news, loved solving murder mysteries, and doing puzzles.

Connie constantly missed her husband, who predeceased her. She was the last of her generation among our family. She is survived by her three children, Nancy Dassoff, Susy Masih, and Jim Turner, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her vivacious and loving spirit and presence will be deeply missed, but we know that she is in a better place and that we will be reunited in the future. Praise be to God for His promise and the work of His salvation through Jesus Christ.

Donations or memorials in Connie’s honor can be sent to Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church, 1614 State Highway 32, Three Lakes WI 54562 (online at https://tlefc.breezechms.com/give/online); or to LaSalle Street Church, 1111 N Wells St Ste 500, Chicago IL 60610-7633 (online at https://www.lasallestreetchurch.org/give)