Beverly Turkal

Beverly Turkal, 85, of Robinson, IL, died December 7, 2018 at Timber Creek Village Assisted Living in Robinson, IL. She was born July 8, 1933 in Gary, IN, the daughter of Clyde & Arlene (Tolbert) Watt. She grew up in Yale, IL and was a 1950 graduate of Newton High School. For a short time, she taught 1st Grade in Yale before she and her family moved to the Chicagoland area, where she substitute-taught for 9 years. She would earn her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology from Saint Benedictine College in Chicago, IL. After earning her master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University, she entered the teaching profession full-time and dedicated her career to the education of children and young adults. Upon moving back to the family farm in 1974, she taught kindergarten at Rose Hill and also taught 4th Grade in Willow Hill before taking on the role of both principal and special education coordinator for Jasper County Schools. She would then become the assistant superintendent. At that time, Bev was the only woman in the state to hold such a position. She became superintendent at Robinson High School in 1990. In 1996, she accepted a position on the IECC Board before being appointed to the State Board of Education, with whom she served from 2000-2003. In every role, she reiterated that what she cared most about were the children and young adults, shaping their lives for years to come. She “retired” many times, but returned to work to fill interim superintendent roles, before finally serving as President of Lincoln Trail Community College. Even in her twilight years, she contributed time and effort to assist in educational grants, the development of the Forest Preserve, the formation of the Drug Court, and local community development activities. Wherever she went, people approached her to thank her for the impact that she had, and her family was no different; she served as a strong role model to her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her sons, Nick (Kathy) Turkal and Kent Johnson; by her daughter-in-law, Beth (Rick) Nethery; and by her grandchildren, Stephanie (Scott) Snell, Angela (Chris) Ghobrial, Katie (Chris) Turkal, Elizabeth (Graham) Gray, Lorana (Dustin) McCall, Rebeccca Nethery, Stephen Sawyer, and Margaret Sawyer. She is additionally survived by six great grandchildren (soon to be seven); and by several nieces and nephews. She married George Turkal on February 5, 1955 and he preceded her in death on October 17, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her parents; by her son, James Turkal; and by her brother, Don Watt. Her family would like to extend a special thanks to those who showed her so much love and kindness: Diana and Rod Harmon, the entire staff at Timber Creek, Dr. Michael Elliott, Dr. Mark Stutz, Harmon’s Drug Store, and the caregivers from home health, palliative care and hospice. An open time to remember Bev will be held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th at Lincoln Trail College’s Zwermann Arts Center. A memorial service will immediately follow and will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the theater with Pastor Phil Boyd & Dennis Inboden officiating. Memorials may be made to Lincoln Trail College Foundation or to the Healing Center at Aurora Health Care. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of arrangements.