Darwin Turk

Darwin Dean Turk, age 68, a longtime resident of Lewis, Iowa, passed away at his home, following a three year battle with cancer, on Monday morning, June 25, 2012.
Darwin was born on August 31, 1943, to Walter Carl and Erma Roberta (Smith) Turk in Atlantic, Iowa. He attended school in the Atlantic Community School district - graduating with the Atlantic High School Class of 1961. In August of 1964, Darwin enlisted in the U. S. Navy in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He received the rank of E-4 before his discharge in August of 1968. After his discharge from service, Darwin began in the roofing business with his father and became the owner of Turk Roofing in 1980.
On July 18, 1970, Darwin was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Thompson at the Atlantic Gospel Chapel and to this union three daughters were born. Darwin was a member of the Lewis Fire Department from 1973 until 2000 and was also a part time employee of Walmart, where he worked in the tire department. He loved camping in his motor home and traveling to Michigan to enjoy the Great Lakes.
Those surviving Darwin are his wife, Ruth; daughters, Colette Sternhagen and husband, Stacy of Cedar Falls, Rachael Christensen and husband, Anthony of Lewis, and Andrea Turk of Ames; grandchildren, Ashley & Austin Sternhagen and Kenna & Grant Christensen; sister, Jonell Cook and husband, Jack of Mount Ayr; brother-in-law, Larry Gustason of Kirkman; mother-in-law, Ardell Thompson and sister-in-law, Joyce Anderson, both of Atlantic; and nephews, Brent and Kevin Gustason, Brian and Scott Cook, and Justin and Jason Anderson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Erma Turk; a sister, Karla Gustason; his grandparents, Robert and Gladys Drake Smith and Jim and Edith Turk; father-in-law, Howard Thompson; and brother-in-law, Bob Anderson.

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