Lucy Theresa Turk, peacefully passed away on December 10, 2022 at the age of 102 years and 11 months at Kenosha Senior Living in Kenosha, WI. She was born on December 30, 1919, in Kenosha, WI, to immigrant parents, Paul Jusis and Casimira (Tubeles) Jusis, who arrived from Lithuania in the late 1890s. Lucy faced challenges early in life when her mother passed away from tuberculosis when she was just 13 years old. She was raised on a farm until her father relocated the family to Kenosha a few years later. On July 5, 1940 she married Frank Andrew Turk in Chicago IL, and they shared many wonderful years together until his passing in 1983.
Lucy demonstrated intelligence and perseverance throughout her life, despite not completing high school. In her younger years, she worked as a housekeeper, displaying her strong work ethic and determination. During World War II, she worked on the production line of the MacWhyte Wire Company in Kenosha. After the war, she became a skilled machine operator at the Nash Car Company, regularly walking 2 miles to and from work which perhaps contributed to her excellent health for more than 99 years and she held the position until her retirement from American Motors, formerly Nash, after many years of dedicated service.
Lucy was very active in the Lithuanian Parish at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, where she was an engaged member of the PTA, participated in the hot lunch program, and was a member of the folk dancing group. In her leisure time, Lucy was an avid baker, specializing in delicious desserts, and she enjoyed various hobbies, including playing tennis and being part of the American Motors Ladies Bowling League.
Lucy’s love for animals was evident as she often adopted German shepherd mix dogs from shelters and kindly fed stray cats in her neighborhood. She would even ensure the cats were spayed or neutered before returning them to their surroundings. As a testament to her resilience, even after her husband Frank Andrew Turk’s passing in 1983, she continued to lead a contented life, living independently in the home that Frank and her son Ken built together in 1955. Despite reaching her 90s, she remained active, driving her car and maintaining her lawn with an electric mower.
Lucy moved into Kenosha Senior Living a month before her 100th birthday. During her stay there, she received loving care from the staff at Kenosha Senior Living. In her final days, she was comforted by Hospice Alliance’s end-of-life care.
Lucy is survived by her only child, Kenneth M. Turk, and his spouse Peggy (Dreutzer) Turk of Sturgeon Bay, WI, her grandchildren, Geoffrey K. Turk, John E. Turk, and Byron H. Turk, as well as her great-grandchildren, Emily Turk, Megan Turk, and Sarah Turk. Additionally, she is survived by step-great-grandchildren, Luis Bautista and Brittany Leo, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frank Andrew Turk, in 1983, and all six of her sisters: Constance Wagner, Tekla Gaelles, Amelia K. Rosinski, Genevieve Gibson, Helen Jusis, and Veronica Jusis.
A funeral service to celebrate Lucy’s life will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, on Saturday, August 19th, 2023, with a visitation beginning at 10:30am and the Memorial Mass beginning at 11:15am. Friends and family are invited to gather and honor her memory.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Lucy’s name to the Humane Society to support her love for animals.
