CLARK FRANKLIN THURN

CLARK FRANKLIN THURN, 79
Thurn Construction

LAKELAND - Clark Franklin Thurn, 79, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2014, as a result of respiratory failure, after a courageous, four month battle with cancer.
Mr. Thurn was born June 20, 1935, in Edgewood, IA, to Isaac and Grace Thurn. He was the youngest of eight children. His siblings were Edna, Carl, Otley, Ester, Clarence, Robert and Evelyn. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army. Mr. Thurn and his family moved to Lakeland in 1968. That same year, he opened the Chicken -N- Fries restaurant in Lakeland and operated it until 1974.
Mr. Thurn founded Thurn Construction in 1976. He was extremely dedicated to his company and the Lakeland community it served. He formally retired in 2000, but still continued to work at least thirty hours a week up until the last month of his life. In his free time, Mr. Thurn was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling. He was also a longtime fan of Lakeland High School Dreadnaughts football. He only missed a handful of games in the last 37 years. While he worked hard and had many interests, more than anything else, he loved spending time with his family, particularly his grandchildren.
Mr. Thurn was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Betty Rose Thurn. He is survived by his loving wife of three years, Dorothea Thurn; son, Jeff Thurn and his wife, Kelly; daughters, Cindy Klein and her husband, David and Lisa Groubert and her husband, John; sister, Evelyn Klein and her husband, Bill; brother, Otley Thurn; grandsons, Johnny Groubert and Kendall Thurn; granddaughters, Christina Klein, Brittany Groubert, Jordan Thurn and Emily Groubert; and many other beloved family members and devoted friends.
Mr. Thurn's family will receive friends Saturday, October 4, 2014, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Lakeland Funeral Home at 2125 South Bartow Highway in Lakeland. Interment will be conducted privately at Lakeland Memorial Gardens. The family requests that donations be made, in Mr. Thurn's memory, to the Lakeland High School Football Booster Club, your local chapter of the SPCA or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be made to the Thurn family at
www.lakelandfuneralhome.com .