Geraldine Turner

Geraldine Ann Hansen Turner, a resident of Wood Lake Wisconsin, passed away at noon on Sunday, October 22, 2006.
Gerry was born July 23, 1930 to Rose C. and Oscar B. Hansen in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
When Gerry was a young girl the family moved to Waterloo, Iowa where she attended Waterloo public schools and graduated from East High in 1948. Members of the East High Class of '48 will remember Gerry as a good student who participated in a variety of school activities. Although her favorite subject was art, she also wrote a column for the school newspaper and helped publish the yearbook. She played baritone horn in the band, took part in sports, and was a member of several clubs.
Gerry graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in June, 1952 and then taught junior high in Pueblo Colorado. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree with a major in Ceramics from Scripps College in California in 1956. During this time, and through the 1960's she also taught art at Claremont High School in Claremont, California and served for several years as chairman of the art department there. Prior to her graduate work at Scripps she had studied ceramics under Paul Soldner.
Together with two friends, Ruth Maynard and Dale Gaynor she helped start the Pump House Ceramics Studio at the old West End Water Co. In Claremont, a bold move for the three women in the turbulent 1960's. Pump House kiln openings drew enthusiastic collectors from all around the Claremont area from 1965 to 1970, when the three potters moved on to other pursuits.
Gerry married Don LaViere Turner, a Wisconsin artist on February 1956. Their son, Blake, was born in 1965. They moved to Wood Lake, near Westfield, Wisconsin in 1971 where they continued their careers in the arts.
Gerry taught arts and crafts at the Oxford Federal Prison for twelve years, specializing in ceramics. She also worked for the Gensler Pottery Studio and produced original ceramic work in her home studio.
She served on the Marquette County Mental Disabilities Board from 1974 to 1981, and on the Marquette Area Opportunities Board from1981 to 2006. She loved to read and was a member of the Coloma Book Club. Her friends remember her as a sharp, intelligent, and giving person, who always had thoughtful insights into any topic of discussion.
Gerry was predeceased by her parents Rose and Oscar Hansen, and her husband Don. She is survived by her son Blake C. Turner, and her sister Jacqueline Calligan and husband Joe Calligan, nephew Brian Marlin, nephew Jay Marlin and his wife Patricia, her great-nephew Ian Marlin, and cousins Duane Nottger and his wife Shari, and her cousin Barbara Turner.
Gerry will be greatly missed by her family, her friends, and her former students, several of whom went on to pursue sucessful careers of their own in ceramics and sculpture and who have continued to keep in touch with her over the years.
Goodbye Mom, we're all going to miss you.