Jo Ann G. Turner

Jo Ann Gustafson Turner of Corning, Iowa, departed this life on April 19, 2014, at Alegent Creighton Health Mercy Hospital in Corning. Jo Ann was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 9, 1930, to Roy H. Gustafson and Billie F. Gustafson. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1948. She attended Colorado Womens College in Denver for her freshman year and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1952.
She met Austin B. Turner, III, of Corning, Iowa, while they were students at the University of Iowa. They were married on August 11, 1951, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, and they remained deeply in love and devoted to each other until Austins death in 2002.
Following their graduation from college and Austins military service in Korea, they returned to Corning where Austin assumed management of the family business, A.B. Turner Son. They made their life together, raising a family, developing lifelong friendships, serving their community, and promoting numerous community and regional projects.
Jo Ann was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at the University of Iowa where she developed many enduring friendships. She was involved in numerous community and regional organizations, including among others, president of the Board of Trustees of the Corning Public Library, leading its major building expansion; board member of the Southwest Iowa Regional Library; board member of the Mercy Health Care Foundation; Corning Womans Club; P.E.O. Chapter CV; and was actively involved in the successful bond issue for the Corning Elementary School Building. She also had great faith and was a lifelong, devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Corning, serving as an elder as well as an active participant in Presbyterian Women.
Most important to Jo Ann, however, was her beloved husband and their children to whom she dedicated her life. Jo Ann and Austin had four children, Austin Beecher Turner, IV (Dianna) of Des Moines, Eric F. Turner (Lisa) of Des Moines, Alec H. Turner (Nancy) of Corning, and Betsy F. Akin (Scott) of Corning, and nine grandchildren, Daniel, William (Alaina), Drew, Connor, Ross, Ella, Sarah, Austin, and Ned.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Austin. She is survived by her sister, Jean Crandall of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and her children and grandchildren, all of whom are forever grateful for her unending love and devotion.