Denver Van Steele-Turner's Obituary
Denver Van Steele-Turner, 76, passed away on the morning of September 6, 2019, at Copper Ridge Health Care in West Jordan, Utah.
Denver was born July 20, 1943 in Salt Lake City to Lolita McCarty Hansen and Denver Francis Steele. He fell in love with Markay Lavern “Katie” Larsen; they married in 1968 in Wendover, Nevada. They were blessed with four wonderful children: Denver Duane Turner, Julia Emalee Turner Hampshire (Elliot), Tonissa “Lorie” Turner and Robert Van Turner. They later divorced and Denver married Rebecca and had 2 children, including daughter Tara Lynn Turner who died as an infant and Jon. Eden Turner. Rebecca and Dencer divorced and he later married Lois Renshaw who later passed away from breast cancer.
Denver had a big heart, with love for his children, grandchildren, family, all humanity and animals. Many strays were take in and loved by him. He often worked three jobs in order to support his children. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to take care of his family and to serve his country and community. Although he had little for himself, he always shared what he could. He would give the shirt off his back if someone needed it.
Later when Denver’s health declined and life got hard he moved to San Diego to take care of his mother and her husband, who later died of cancer. He and his mother then moved to Las Vegas where they cared for each other for her last eight years.
Denver and his oldest son Denver Duane were the best of buddies. When Denver Jr. tragically died in 1991 it was a deep loss to him. His daughter Julia passed away in 2006, and son Robert passed in 2008. His surviving daughter Lorie Turner Pearson has been very close to Denver, lovingly at his bedside through his last days.
Denver loved many things: the fourth of July, decorating Easter eggs with his children and grandchildren, Christmas, Halloween, playing the guitar, playing video games, and doing word searches and crossword puzzles. His favorite colors were red and black for West High School, where his four children attended, and green. He especially loved hanging out with his grandchildren Jaden and Shyleah. His favorite music was Oldies But Goodies: The Everly Brothers, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, and Elvis. He loved western wear clothing and the Denver Broncos. He served three years in the US Navy and was a lifetime patriot.
These are his granddaughter Shyleah Hampshire’s thoughts on her grandpa:
“In honor of my grandfather’s Irish heritage (his father’s parents came from Ireland) I kind of want to sing “Danny Boy” for him. One of my favorite memories was when he used to tease me, and one day I started understanding it and loved him for it. He helped me grow. Grandpa was amazing whenever you were sad or ashamed. He would help stop the tears by being clever and make jokes, help you think it through, and sometimes he was so clever that he would slowly change your train of thought and make you laugh. I found it entertaining that he would say he didn’t want to take in strays. One day when I was visiting, a beautiful stray cat came to the door. At first he was upset by this friendly little calico and told me to not feed it or it would keep coming around and he “would end up feeding the whole neighborhood of stray cats!” I agreed and promised not to feed her. I named her Clair. The next weekend I visited again. I sat on the front porch talking to him after my long trip. He showed me a secret spot under some wooden furniture where there was a bowl of cat food. He said, “we feed her and watch her eat the food, and we named her Cat Splash. I just chuckled and realized that it takes my grandpa at least two weeks to love things, and thought, “I’ll keep that in mind when he’s being stubborn.”
Denver is survived by his daughter, Tonissa “Lorie” Turner Pearson (Scott), and grandson Jaden Pearson, both of Riverton, Utah; granddaughter Shyleah Hampshire, and son-in-law Elliot Hampshire, both of Layton, Utah; and a son from his second marriage, Jon E. Turner of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents and four children, Denver, Julia, and Robert, and infant Tara Lynn Turner. He was cremated and his ashes will be buried at Utah Veterans Memorial Park in Bluffdale, Utah. His memorial service will be held at his daughter's Lorie's house on September 28th between 5-7 p.m. in Riverton.
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