Richard N. "Dick" Turnroth

Richard 'Dick' N. Turnroth

Born: November 4, 1923

Died: March 26, 2021

ROCK FALLS – Richard "Dick" Neil Turnroth, 97, passed away on Friday, March 26th, 2021 at Morningside Memory Care facility. The family is forever grateful for the loving care he received at Morningside.

Dick was born on November 4th, 1923 in Sterling, Illinois, the son of Richard M. and Dorothy Turnroth. Dick celebrated every day being married to his devoted wife Elizabeth (Betty) for 69 wonderful years. Betty preceded him in death, passing away on April 7th, 2019.

He so very much loved life out on the edge of the 12th fairway on the back nine at Rock River.

Dick went to college at Northern Illinois University to become a teacher, although while in school he enlisted in the Navy when World War II broke out and served in the Pacific. He later returned after the War to resume his studies at NIU, where he met Betty and love blossomed. They were married on August 6th, 1949.

Dick and Betty had two sons, Eric (Rick) in 1951 and Curtis in 1954, originally settling in Battle Creek, Michigan, where Dick taught 8th grade history. His sister Gwen has a fond memory when she was in high school, of her older brother Dick, being her student teacher for history. Dick and Betty later moved to Sterling after Rick was born, where Dick joined his father's business, Illinois Poster Advertising. Dick worked hard at the business with his father and eventually acquired Illinois Outdoor Poster Advertising in the early 1960s and started Turnroth Sign Company.

Dick served as President of the Illinois Outdoor Advertising Association and was instrumental in the passage of the first Outdoor Advertising Control Act at the federal level.

It was February 1984 when President Reagan's advance team selected Turnroth Sign Company to provide all the signage for President Reagan's visit to his boyhood home in Dixon. The President attended a rally in the Dixon High School gymnasium surrounded by thousands of cheering people. t was a proud moment for Dick and his son Rick, who by then had come home to join the family business. In record time they had to create a number of incredible signs and banners in honor of the President's visit... but they pulled it off.

Dick was active in the Sterling-Rock Falls Jaycees and Roostered out. Dick was an avid golfer and was active for most of his life as a member at Rock River Country Club – even recording his only ace there ... on hole number 13 ... a par 3.

Dick's love for golf spanned the oceans with a Membership at Musselburgh Golf Club just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. Musselburgh Links was an original Open Championship venue, hosting the competition on six occasions between 1874 and 1889. Years ago, Dick helped the club establish an overseas membership program to help promote the Ccub and raise revenue, and they honor him to this day with an annual club tournament named after him.

In retirement, Dick fulfilled a lifelong ambition and obtained his pilot license at the age of 72 and bought his first airplane at 73. He became "Sky King." He had the phrase "Walking my dog" custom lettered on his engine cowling. If one of Dick's buddies asked him what he was going to do that day, he would reply - "I'm going out to 'Walk my dog.'" Dick lived his life to the fullest, enjoyed an incredibly rich life with Betty and often said he had no regrets.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty; and one sister, Irene Lincoln of Arizona.

He is survived by his other sister, Gwen Bradshaw off North Carolina; sons, Rick and Curt; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held to honor both Dick and Betty Turnroth on Saturday, June 5, 2021. It will be held outside. Please call 815-625-1155 for details.