Robert William "Bob" Turner, a resident of West Chicago, IL, was born on August 9, 1928, in De Soto, MO, and passed away peacefully at his home in West Chicago, IL, on April 28, 2016, at the age of 87.

Bob spent his early childhood roaming the hills in the Arcadia Valley, swimming in its creeks and camping in the foothills of the Ozarks. His first of many faithful dogs, Pal, would run to the school and wait outside Bob's classroom, occasionally taking a drink from the water fountain. They both graduated from Ironton High School in 1946, after Bob achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He was selected to model for a magazine promoting tourism in his home state of Missouri and worked as a forest fire scout in Missouri and an apple picker in Washington to make money for college.

Bob attended the University of Missouri and the University of Washington's School of Forestry, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and receiving his flight training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. During the Korean War Bob flew Corsair fighter aircraft off the USS Princeton. On one of his missions he was critically injured when his plane crashed into the ocean on takeoff. He was able to get out of the cockpit while submerged, and a rescue team plucked him from the water, making him one of the few survivors of a crash from an aircraft. Emergency personnel saved his arm and eventually he returned to active duty.

In 1955 Bob was hired by United Airlines; he began flying twin engine Convairs and ended his career 33 years later as captain on jet aircraft. While he was a co-pilot on the Convair he met Nancy, who was a stewardess. He clipped her wings, and they were married for 57 years. He and Nancy raised their family on three acres near West Chicago, where he designed and built a barn to house ponies, horses, and tractors.

After retirement Bob was able to spend more time on his farm in Belleview, Missouri, raising cattle, putting up hay, and cutting weeds, with great energy and satisfaction. He remained physically active with maintenance projects around his home and farm until the final year of his life, and was alert and kept his mischievous sense of humor right up to his death.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Nancy, a daughter Carolyn, two sons Mark (Kristy) and Michael (Derek), and three grandchildren: Julia, Robert and Claire; and two step-granddaughters: Kelly and Laura.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Minnie Turner, and his older brother, Joseph Ross.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Gary United Methodist Church , 224 N. Main St, Wheaton, IL 60187. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the ASN Foundation for Kidney Research , 1510 H Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005; or to Gary Church at the address above.