Robert "Swede" D. Turnquist

Robert "Swede" D. Turnquist, age 85, of Monmouth, passed away at OSF St.Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, on August 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm. Swede was born on September 30, 1925 in the rural area of Lenox Township in Warren County and is the son of John and Mary Polen Turnquist. He was raised on the farm and attended rural schools. He was married to Betty Jean Isaacson on January 5, 1946 in Monmouth, Illinois and she preceded him in death on February 16, 1995. Swede began farming as a young man on the family farm with his father. He was a farmer in agriculture all his life, and also worked for a number of years in Security at Wells Pet Food of Monmouth. Swede also was well known for caring for a number of exotic animals on the farm located on the southeast corner of Monmouth. School groups and groups from town would be able to view emus, llamas, bears, buffalo, elk, deer, and prairie dogs, to name a few. Robert also enjoyed golf at Gibson Woods golf course, and taking yearly trips to Biloxi, Mississippi to do so. He also often went to Minnesota and Canada on fishing trips. His family and grandchildren were most important to him. Swede is survived by two daughters Connie Davis of Rock Island, IL and Penny (Mike) Grafton of Browning, IL. There are four sons surviving, Mike and Valerie of Emmitsburg, Maryland; Steve and Paula of Conroe, Texas; Ron and Idalu of Monmouth, Illinois; and Randy and Missy also of Monmouth. There are twenty-six grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and one great great grandson. A number of other relatives also survive. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, one sister, and one brother. Services:A funeral service will be on Thursday September 1st at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, at 11:00 am. Interment will be in Monmouth Cemetery. His family plans visitation on Thursday receiving friends at the funeral home from 9:00 am to 11:00 prior to the service. A memorial fund is established for Western Illinois Animal Rescue.