Brian John "Grampy" Turner

Brian John Turner: an avid outdoorsman, a teacher of many things to many people, grill master and food appreciator, and a quick-witted man who found joy in making others laugh, died on October 19th, 2025 in Hampshire, Illinois.

Brian John Turner, 66, was born on November 12th, 1958 to the late Robert and Marylin Turner. Brian had two older siblings (Bruce, Donna) and one younger sibling (Scott). It was the perfect family dynamic - a busy household with fighting like "cats and dogs" amongst the siblings, but protective of each other out of love. Throughout his childhood Brian stayed active as a baseball player and cross country runner at East Leyden Highschool, Franklin Park, Class of '76. Brian also had a lifelong passion for Scouting.

Brian met the love of his life, Linda, when he started visiting a friend in her neighborhood. Linda stated it was love at first sight and Brian would joke about having a stalker. They were eager to start their lives together and were married in 1981: a true match made in heaven. Brian and Linda would shortly move to an apartment and later a house in Palatine, Illinois, where family and friends were always welcome. They spent much of their time with Brian's nieces, Jessica and Hilary, who considered him a father.

In 1992 and 1994, Brian and Linda welcomed their sons into the world and built a house in Hampshire, Illinois, which was pleasantly rural for Brian's tastes. Brian loved his sons and was proud of them - Brian (Jr.) and Jacob never had to wonder otherwise. He was always there for them. He taught them everything they would need to know to survive in the world. He was proud to be a father, and overjoyed to be a grandfather to Charlotte, Nate, Jeff, and Andrew; who affectionately called him "Grampy".

Outside of his immediate family, Brian always considered his friends at Graftek Press/Brown Printing and the Woodview Parkway neighbors as a second family. He was universally loved by the senior citizens of Hampshire Township, with several residents requesting that only Brian assist them. Brian and Linda treated every one of their Golden Retrievers like family: Beau, Spencer, Wyatt, and Morty. Brian also loved Lassie and Susie, his dogs growing up.

Brian had many hobbies and interests that his loved ones will remember him by, and carry forward with them. A few in particular:
A prolific love for music was the center of his life, Brian always had music playing. He greatly enjoyed singing songs and karaoke, challenging those in his company to identify the band/album/year published, and had music for every occasion (like Johnny Mathis during Christmastime, or The Guess Who when he wanted to make his sons laugh).In his garage, poolside, in the great outdoors, the bowling alley, the golf course, watching sports with his neighbors, family vacations…time spent with loved ones is what Brian lived for and where he truly loved life. Brian's laugh was contagious and he was known for various one-liners. He loved playing games like Left-Right-Center, Bunco, and Poop on Your Neighbor in which he took great joy revealing his "King". He will fondly be remembered for the vacation spots he loved - Camping at the Warren Dunes, fishing trips to Hayward, "Island View" Minnesota, Colorado, and Camp Shin-Go-Beek.His cooking will be greatly missed, as Brian loved to bring containers of food to all who would enjoy it. Particularly the way he perfected marinating and grilling any cut of meat, his salsa with homegrown jalapeno, Minestrone and French Onion soup, and stuffed jalapeno peppers. On the topic of food - he will fondly be remembered for eating Oreos and EL Fudge Cookies, chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup, chocolate malts, chips with vinegar, potatoes, and milk. His son remarked he had never seen him eat fruit.

Services will be held at 11am on November 8 at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Rd., Huntley, IL. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring of 2026. A good man's life is measured by the lives that he touches.

• Loving husband of Linda (Gorski)
• Devoted Father to Brian (wife Erin) and Jacob
• Loving Brother to the late Bruce Turner, Donna Toriani (husband Dale), Scott (wife Kathi)
• Loving Brother-In-Law to Laura Sewall (late husband Andrew), and Elizabeth Kalish (husband Timothy)
• Loving Uncle to Jason (wife Sarah), Christopher (wife Alysia), Michelle Sullivan (husband Ron), Jessica Korabik (Eric), Hilary Wischmeyer (husband Dave), Lucas, Timothy Segebarth (wife Christina), and Benjamin Segebarth
• Cherished grandfather to Charlotte, Nathaniel, Jeffrey, and Andrew
• Loving great uncle to Alan, Jorden (Amber), Alex and Colin Kuchay, and Joanna Segebarth