‘Golden Bachelor’ Gerry Turner Reminisces About Late Wife

Gerry Turner and Toni Turner via YouTube

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner has stolen the hearts of millions of fans across the country. Fans are excited and hopeful he will find love after losing his wife Toni in 2017. As the show continues to air on ABC, Gerry is doing more interviews and opening up more about his late wife. Keep reading to find out more as he reminisces about how he met Toni in high school.

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner reminisces about late wife

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner spoke with People and opened up more about his late wife Toni. These two lovebirds were high school sweethearts. However, it didn’t start out that way. Gerry says he was actually interested in Toni’s best friend at first. Toni’s bestie had no interest in Gerry so he decided to ask out his future bride.

Gerry said, “I remember standing there, chatting with Toni, and talking about her best friend. All of a sudden, I thought, ‘Well, what the heck? This gal seems really nice and a good conversationalist.’”

Their first date happened during his sophomore year. He said, “Back then in Ottumwa, Iowa, which is where I lived, the big deal every Friday was a dance at the YMCA; there’d be a band and so forth. So I asked Toni out the first time to a dance at the YMCA. We pretty much dated regularly for the next four or five years.”

Gerry Turner and family via YouTube

Then, they made a forever vow when they married in 1972. The happy couple had two daughters together, Angie and Jenny. Gerry says he remembers boat trips down the Mississippi. He recalls a good group of friends who all had young children as well. They would tie a rope to the life jackets and then to the boat and toss the kids into the water to play. It was a good time for all.

Their daughter Jenny had two daughters, Charlee and Payton who are now 16 and 21. Gerry Turner recalls Toni being so excited to be a grandmother. She started buying baby clothes and they would keep the grandkids for long weekends.

Gerry Turner and wife Toni via YouTube

Embracing their golden years

Gerry and Toni planned to live out their golden years in their dream house by the lake. However, when she retired it wasn’t long until she became ill and then passed away shortly after.

Gerry said, “She’d worked her whole life, getting to that spot where she deserved her time in retirement and her time of fun, and she got cheated out of it. That was the thing that always bothered me.”

After Toni passed leaving him to live out his golden years without her, he sold their first lake house. The memories haunted him too badly. So he bought another house on the lake when one opened up.

They still celebrate Toni and reminisce about her. Gerry said, “On the anniversary of her passing, Jenny and Angie and I always exchange thoughts like, ‘If she was here, this would be what she would be doing today,’ or ‘This is what she would be interested in.’”

YOuTube

The family also takes time at Christmas to remember Toni by making her favorite treat. They get together and make cinnamon balls. He shared that Toni loved Christmas and everything about it.

Now that time has passed he’s ready to find love again. He won’t forget Toni and all they shared together but he knows it’s time to move on. He said, “Fate works in strange ways. This is probably one of the strangest. But it’s worked out.”

Don’t miss The Golden Bachelor Thursday nights on ABC.

Jamie Colclasure

One Comment

  1. I think that Gerry needs to take more time to find a special lady that is as special as he is.

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