Marilyn Ruth Turk

Marilyn Ruth Turk was born on July 11, 1938 to parents Lester and Ruby Bueker. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where she grew up and went to Grover Cleveland High School and graduated June 1956. She had two brothers and at an early age learned to stand up and take care of others. As a young girl, she would often go to baseball games with her dad. She became a loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan and even met some players like Stan Musial. Marilyn was very protective over her family. Because her father was deaf she was his second pair of ears, even at job sites. She was like a second mother to her baby brother, Charles, and would often have to get him out of trouble.

Marilyn started working at Southwestern Bell in accounting and payroll. It was here that she met her future husband, James Michael Turk. They married on July 20, 1968 at Salem Lutheran Church. James and Marilyn gave birth to a daughter, Marilee Elizabeth, on December 24, 1971 and a son, Michael James, on September 7, 1975. James and Marilyn moved to Lee’s Summit, Missouri to raise their family. Marilyn was a stay at home mom and loved raising her two children. She was very active at their school and was PTA president for years. She always loved children and children gravitated towards her.

Marilyn had a passion for cooking that she learned from her mother. She even won first place in a chili cookoff with firefighters. Her other passion was gardening and she had a huge perennial garden in her backyard. Marilyn’s other love was for her family dogs & she was never without a fur baby. She loved people and had the ability to walk in a room and make everyone feel good. She loved to banter, especially with men. She could give it as easily as take it. She was very loyal and protective of those around her. Friends and family often came to her for advice, and she was good at it. She was petite in stature, but made up for that with a huge personality.

Marilyn started attending Lutheran Church in St. Louis and converted both of her parents to be Lutheran. She loved her God and Jesus and loved going to church. Her whole life she found comfort in her Lord and would share the gospel with others.

Marilyn passed away on September 6, 2026, after a long battle with dementia. She passed peacefully, in her home with her daughter by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Ruby Bueker; her younger brother, Charles Bueker; her older brother, Jay Cleveland; and her husband, James Turk. Marilyn is survived by her daughter Marilee Turk; son Michael Turk and fiancé Toni Enloe; and two grandchildren, Xena Turk and Draven Snyder; as well as extended family & friends.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday, September 28 at 11 a.m., followed by memorial service at 12 p.m., a light lunch will be served after at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 615 SE Todd George Pkwy, Lees Summit, MO 64063. Family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.