Kenneth L. Turman

1943 - 2021

Kenneth L. Turman

After a long illness, Kenneth L. Turman, 78, passed peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, Nancy, on December 4th, 2021. Ken was born on September 29th, 1943, in the small town of Spencer, Indiana, to Bonnie and James Turman. The family eventually moved to Terre Haute, Indiana and he graduated from Wiley High. He worked for a few years before entering college and deciding what he would like to do with his life. During this time period he met the girl of his dreams, the former Nancy Ambrosini. Five months later they married on Thanksgiving Day, 1965. Ken loved to recall his proposal offering Nancy a choice…be married on Thanksgiving and be thankful for each other or be married on Christmas Day and be a gift to each other. They celebrated their 56th anniversary this year.

Ken enrolled in Indiana State University and graduated in 1970 with a double major in marketing and business. He graduated summa cum laude and also was awarded the Marathon Oil Award which was presented to the student with the highest index.

He accepted a position at Owens Illinois, and they moved to Toledo. In 1980, Ken accepted a new position to manage a plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, for Worthington Industries. In 1988 Worthington Industries asked Ken to build and open a new Japanese – American joint venture plant in Columbus, Ohio. Ken and Nancy took on this new role by taking Japanese language courses and entertaining local and visiting Japanese in their home. Eventually life took them back to Toledo and old friends. Ken was accepted into Law School at the University of Toledo but before completing his first year he was asked by a Japanese firm to work with them in some of their ventures. He joined this firm and took on a new set a challenges before retiring.

Ken was a lifelong, avid golfer and upon retiring he spent most of his time playing golf, watching golf, reading about golf and taking golf trips with his buddies. He loved animals as well and supported many animal welfare organizations. In later years he could always be found with a lapful of his dogs and a kitty. Always ready to help a friend, his kindness, humor, intellect and generosity will be greatly missed by his wife, Nancy; his brother and sister-in-law, Mike Ambrosini and Diane Marchant; and his many friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.