Thursday, Jan. 05 2012 4:48PM

Dr. Jack Leon Turk

Dr. Jack L. Turk, 80, died at home Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2011, in Dublin, Texas.

Jack was born Nov. 15, 1931, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He was a 1950 graduate of Oakland Technical High School in Oakland, Calif. Jack earned a Purple Heart in the United States Marine Corps for his service during the invasion of Inchon, South Korea. Dr. Turk earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from U.C. Davis and his Ph.D. from Washington State University and taught at Ohio State University. Mr. Turk joined Pfizer Pharmaceutical’s Animal Research Division in 1965, transferred to its Lee’s Summit facility in 1977 and in 1996, retired after 31 years with the company.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gail Koeppe Turk; four children, Reenie and Chuck Smith, Austin, Texas, John and Carol Turk, Denver, Colo., Jacob and Donna Turk, Lee’s Summit, Kathleen and Paul Stonum, Albany; and 11 grandchildren, Karen (Jason) Wagner, Scott, Kyle and Brian Smith, Thomas and Christen Turk, Adam, Hannah and Elena Turk, Dallas and Emma Stonum; and five great-grandchildren, Younis and Yahya Turk, Benjamin and Annelise Wagner and Zayden Smith.

A memorial service will be at a later date.