Willard D. Turner

Willard Darrel Turner, age 86 of Eau Claire, died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Aug. 5, 1921 in Dunn County to John and Maysel (nee Drinkwine) Turner. In 1939, he graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School and then attended State Teachers College in Eau Claire. For more than 40 years, he worked at McDonough Manufacturing serving as a machinist, shop superintendent and service engineer. After retiring, he was a consulting service engineer for McDonough and later served as an independent consultant, making his last service call to a sawmill in Virginia when he was nearly 80. Willard married Joan Ruth Olson more than 60 years ago on May 30, 1947, in Decorah, Iowa. Survivors include his wife, Joan of Eau Claire, WI; four sons, Darrel (Jane) of Reeseville, WI, Nick (Jean) of Eagle, AK, Joe (Laurie) of West Salem, WI and Colin of Chippewa Falls, WI; a daughter, Mary (Scott) Heimstead of Eau Claire, WI; 12 grandchildren, Jessi (Mark) Hamersky, Laura (Brandy) Steberg, Turner (Glendali) Howard, Sara (Paul Garceau) Turner, Ian (Sarah) Turner, Nicole (Eric) Smith, and Lindsay, Dylan, Meggan, John, Sean and Anna Turner; five stepgrandchildren, DeAnn Eggen, Danielle (Jim) Carr, Denise (Thomas) Spindler, and Wayne and Christy Corbine; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, June (Robert) Robertson of New Richmond, WI and Doris Opelt of Delavan, WI. Willard was preceded in death by his brother, John, and sisters Violet Knott, Marian Noe and Betty Cleasby. A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 at Plombon’s All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Service, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire. Friends may call from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent care of the funeral home or made online at 866allfaiths.com.