Obituary of Margaret Louise Turpen

Margaret L. Turpen Jupiter, FL Memorial services for Margaret L. "MOM" Turpen, 83, of Jupiter, Florida (formerly of the Eldora and Newton, Iowa areas), will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2008 at the Pence~Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to services on Saturday, at the funeral home. Memorials are being designated in Margaret's name and may be left at the funeral home. Margaret Louise Turpen, the daughter of Lloyd and Mathia (Chittick) Hall-Jones, was born August 16, 1925 in Madison County, Iowa. Raised on a farm near Stuart, Iowa, she was a graduate of the Stuart High School, Class of 1943. While in high school, she played a key role in Stuart's run at the Iowa State Basketball Playoffs. Margaret had obtained a Normal Teaching Certificate from then, the Iowa State Teachers College. She went on to teach for several years in a rural one room schoolhouse. She was often visited by formal students who remarked on her patience and willingness "stay after" to help explain complex problems. In 1978, she was employed by the Vernon Company in Newton, retiring in 1990 On October 18, 1946, Margaret was united in marriage with Darrell Turpen in Fort Scott, Kansas. She had spent the majority of her life in Newton. Margaret devoted her life to her family, and was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Newton, lifetime member of the American Legion Post #111 Women's Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary and the Eastern Star. She enjoyed spending time with her family, fishing, gardening and clock collecting. For many years she enjoyed spending her winters in Jupiter, Florida with her son and a band of Harley motorcycle enthusiasts who congregated around Steve-O's Motorcycle Shop, she was known as "MOM". The rest of her year was spent in Eldora watching her grandson's numerous sports and school activities. She especially enjoyed the time spent working at Dorothy's Senior Center with all her friends. Margaret died on Monday, January 5, 2009 at the Jupiter Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Darrell on March 4, 1985. Those left to honor Margaret's memory include her sons: Stephen Turpen of Jupiter, FL and Marvin (Julie) Turpen of Eldora, IA; step-sons: Larry and Bobby Turpen, both of Council Bluffs, IA; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a group of young at heart bikers.