Sioux City - Curtis Ray Turner, 53, of Sioux City died on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, at his home, following a 13-month battle with cancer.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ryan Christenson officiating. Burial will be 9 a.m. Tuesday in Stanton-Merrill Township Cemetery, Merrill, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service being said at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Curt was born on Oct. 22, 1959, in Fort Lewis, Wash. He was the son of Harry E. Jr. and Mary Lou (Van Cleve) Turner. He lived in Sioux City most of his life. Curt graduated from East High School in 1978 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics from Morningside College. He also earned his teaching certificate for K through 12.
On July 2, 1983, he married Marilyn Posey at St. James United Methodist Church. Curt earned five certifications in Project Lead the Way and was extremely happy teaching in the PLTW engineering program at East High School for the past 10 years.
He was a member of St. James United Methodist Church. Serving youth was a passion in his life whether it was mentoring them at church by serving as a district youth coordinator for the United Methodist Church or working with the Boy Scouts of America. He was an assistant scout master for Troop 208 and was awarded the "God and Life" award from the BSA. Curt was a proud member of the Pot Bellied Stallions Motorcycle Club.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Sioux City; two sons, James Turner of Holstein, Iowa, and Nicholas Turner of Sioux City; his mother, Mary Lou (Joe) Haindfield of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; two sisters and a brother, Kris (Doug) Niemeyer of Sioux Falls, S.D., Kiev Kraayenbrink of Sioux City, and Kyle (Jana) Turner of Sioux City; nieces and nephews, Jessica (John) Page, Brett Kraayenbrink (fiancée Maggie Norton), Andrew Niemeyer, Adam Niemeyer, Jenny Niemeyer, Megan Turner, Abby Turner and Joe Turner; two great-nieces, Olivia Page and Lillie Kraayenbrink; and mother-in-law, Juanita Posey of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harry E. Turner Jr.; his grandparents, Vic and Viola Van Cleve and Harry and Cleo Turner; and father-in-law, Everett Posey.
In lieu of flowers, the family has established the Curtis R. Turner PLTW Scholarship for Engineering students from East High School.