Richard (Dick) Turek

Col. (Ret.) Richard J. Turek, 80, passed away suddenly, on September 16, 2010. Dick was born on June 3, 1930, the 12th of 15 children, to Frank and Anna Turek in Montgomery, MN. Dick graduated from Montgomery High School in 1948 where he lettered in baseball, football and basketball. He attended Creighton University on a basketball scholarship from 1948 to 1951. In 1951 he enlisted in the Air Cadets, and in 1952 he married the love of his life, Bonnie Louise Novotny.

Col. Turek served his country in a distinguished 25 year career in the United States Air Force. Col. Turek flew reconnaissance missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis, classified missions during the Russian Cold War years and flew 150 combat missions during the Vietnam War. During his more than 10,000 hours of flight time, Col. Turek flew 10 different aircraft. He was a flight instructor in the Radar Interceptor Program and in Weapons Systems Operation in the F-4C Phantom Jet Fighter. He was Squadron Commander of Combat Crew Training at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ and Chief of Fighter Training and Director of Exercises at 12th Air Force Headquarters at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. Colonel Turek's last two assignments were as Base Commander at Galena Air Base, Alaska, and Cannon AFB, New Mexico.

Col. Turek received twenty-six awards and commendations. Among them were the Legion of Merit w/one cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ten clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/one cluster, Expeditionary Medal w/three clusters, Vietnam Service Medal, and many others.

After retiring from the Air Force on June 30, 1976, he attended the University of Texas where he graduated with a BBA in Management.

He began his second career as an adjunct professor at Austin Community College, where he taught various Management and Business courses including Business Ethics for 29 years, until his retirement in May 2010. In 1994 he was Adjunct Faculty Winner of the Award for Recognition of Excellence in Teaching.

Dick was a man of deep faith. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for 39 years. He recently received the Diocese of Austin Lumen Gentium (Light of the World) Award, for years of voluntary service in his church. Dick had a devotion to his country, his family and his students. Dick was known for his great sense of humor and his ability to tell a great story. He enjoyed working out at the gym every morning, watching any sporting event, the annual family vacation to Port Aransas, and any activity that involved his children and grandchildren.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonnie. He is also survived by his daughter Vicki Ravenburg and husband, George Weynand; son Mark Turek and wife, Sharon; daughter Terri Lindsay and husband, Mack; grandchildren Sam Weynand, Katie and Lucy Turek, Corley and Sara Tullos, Mack and Chris Lindsay and Brooke Solomon; and great-grandchildren Reese, Noah and Mallory. He is also survived by 2 sisters and a vast extended family.

The family will receive guests at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, on Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with a rosary at 7:00. A funeral mass celebrating the life of Dick Turek will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 24, 2010 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5909 Reicher Dr, Austin, Texas. The interment will be at a later date at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Sacred Heart's St. Vincent De Paul Society.