J. Michael Turnbull

If dealing with death throughout his adult life taught Mike Turnbull anything, it was that life was too short not to live it to its fullest -- but not necessarily in a way that might be expected.

"I firmly believe in the idea 'Live for today,' and I do it,'" he had maintained.

Turnbull, owner of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, died Tuesday, March 5, 2019, just 12 days shy of his 69th birthday anniversary.

Certainly, his mantra included travel and relaxation when those opportunities presented themselves.  More often, though, it meant finding a gamut of ways to lighten the loads of others.

Sometimes those actions were unavoidably public, through organizations and programs that brought benefits on community, state, or national levels.

Sometimes he simply brought smiles and laughter that lifted spirits of those around him, whether it was through his gregarious nature or through well thought-out pranks he played on friends. Frequently and without fanfare, however, Turnbull observed that others needed a helping hand and he was quick to lend it.

Anecdotes of Turnbull's natural generosity surfaced quickly after news of his death: He'd surprised a young couple with a bunk bed for their children, he'd bought a suit for a young man who needed it for a new job, given a gift card to another to shop for essentials, surprised another with an extravagant housewarming gift, or sent monthly checks to a college student to help defray living expenses for “supplies”.

He had obtained certification to perform marriage ceremonies for a few friends and took the task seriously, carefully wording each solemn ceremony to make it personally appropriate to each of the couples.

Turnbull was generous with his time, too, mentoring and helping mold young people beginning their careers. None of those Turnbull helped had asked for anything -- that was key -- but Turnbull had taken notice and made a conscious choice to take action.

Equally important, Turnbull claimed friends across all sorts of lines that sometimes divide human beings. He was equally at home in a tuxedo, a business suit, or the jeans and cowboy boots he wore away from work and business. No matter what he was wearing, he could be counted on to be driving a black Chevy pickup truck bearing RBB personalized license plate.

Turnbull undeniably invested his time, money, and considerable energies into improving others' lots in life. It seemed his chock-full calendar of meetings and events could have kept two or three people busy.

In a 2006 tongue-in-cheek editorial, it was speculated whether Turnbull was gathering research in hopes of being cloned one day. The idea, published as a light-hearted commentary in a "Friday Thoughts" column of The Emporia Gazette mentioned that Turnbull had gone to dinner with Emporia State alumni Dr. Panayiotis "Panic" Zavos, a world-renowned expert on cloning who had returned here to present a lecture on campus.

While acknowledging Turnbull's good deeds benefitted the community, it was also noted that Turnbull was not shy about voicing his opinions and "getting things stirred up on issues that he may disagree with." “A legion of Mike Turnbull clones might be more than the community could handle, Chris Walker said, before adding, "Next time you see Mike, please let him know that you really appreciate that he is one of a kind." And he was.

There is no doubt that Turnbull's public-spirited mindset contributed in large measure to the betterment of Emporia, the State of Kansas and beyond.

Turnbull had set his career path as a sophomore at Eskridge High School and never wavered. After three years of study at Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University), where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, he finished his bachelor of science degree in the mortuary science program at the University of Minnesota.

He returned to Kansas to accept a job at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. Five years later, in 1977, he purchased the funeral home from previous owners, Harry and Aileen Barnett.

"People didn't really trust me at first because I was 27, but they were able to overlook my youth because I tried to present a professional attitude," Turnbull was quoted saying in a Feb. 16, 2012, Gazette article honoring him as Businessman/Entrepreneur of the Year. "Note I stress the word 'tried.' "

Turnbull not only tried, he succeeded both professionally and personally in living life to its fullest in every respect. And he might as well have added "and whatever you do, give it your best effort" to that mantra.

It was a pattern he'd begun as a college student, when he was inducted into the Blue Key National Honor Society. Membership is based on "integrity, all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service ... to others."

Simply carrying a membership card never satisfied Turnbull; somewhere in his DNA lived a gene  that compelled him to take action.

As a member of the National Funeral Directors, he represented the group at a bioterrorism meeting sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He also was Kansas representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He was a member and state chairman of the International Order of the Golden Rule, a professional organization for funeral directors who pledge to adhere to a strict code of ethical business and service-standards conduct.

As a member of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association, he served six years on its legislative committee and was chairman from 1996 to 2000. He also was past president of KFDA District 2.

In 1999, he became KFDA's secretary-treasurer, moved on to vice president, and in 2001 was elected president, a position he held until 2003, when the organization honored him as Kansas Funeral Director of the Year.

Turnbull also was actively involved in economic and leadership development programs both at the state and local levels. After completing the first Leadership Emporia class in 1989, he graduated from the Leadership Kansas Class in 1991 and was a lifetime member of the LK Alumni Association. He continued that involvement for years, nominating Emporians for acceptance into subsequent LK classes and hosting LK participants and alumni when they gathered in Emporia.

He was a member of the Kansas Department of Commerce's Kansas Cavalry to recruit and retain business, and served on the board of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the KCCI economic development committee.

Locally, he had been a director of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and had served on multiple committees. Roberts-Blue-Barnett received the Chamber's Business of the Year Award in 1998.

Developing the downtown area into a busy destination also drew his support. He was a member of the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance Board as the theatre was being restored into a Commercial Street showpiece that re-opened in 2008.

He was a board of directors member for Emporia Main Street for many years, and in 2003 received the Emporia Main Street Outstanding Supporter award and the Kansas Governor's Award for Excellence, Downtown Supporter, from Kansas Main Street.

There were not many organizations or causes that did not benefit in some way from Turnbull's community-driven efforts.

He had been a member and past president of the Emporia Human Relations Commission, a three-term member and past president of the Hetlinger Developmental Center board, the Emporia Salvation Army board, the Emporia Senior Center Advisory Board, and The Farm, Inc., board. He was also a former member and past president of the Evening Kiwanis Club, a former member of Rotary Club and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2587, and served on the Emporia State Bank Customer Advisory Board for two years.

He served on the St. Patrick's Day Committee, the White Memorial Park Committee, as a trustee of the TKE fraternity at Emporia State, as board member of the Lyon County Unit of the American Cancer Society, the USD 253 Community Crisis Planning Committee, and was chairman of several committees at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he was a member.

Turnbull received the Service to Mankind Award from Sertoma Club in Emporia in 2006, was named Small Business Employer of the Year in 2001 by the City of Emporia's Human Relations Commission and the Personnel Association of Greater Emporia. That same year, he received the Corporate Friend of The Farm, Inc., award.

He was recognized as a businessman and civic leader in The Gazette's "Shaping Emporia's Past and Future" issue published for the 150th anniversary of the city.

For many years, he was president of The Trusler Foundation, and threw out the first pitch on Turnbull Field when it was dedicated at the Trusler Sports Complex at Emporia State. Irene Trusler instilled values in Turnbull to always carry out another person’s wishes to honor their memory.

He had been involved for several years with the National Teachers Hall of Fame, and hosted some of its award-winners in his home.

In recent years, he had focused his support on the ESU Hornet baseball team. He had been a member of the Emporia State University Foundation board of trustees, was chairman of the annual endowment drive in 1986, was president of the ESU President's Club for eight years, and served on the Executive Committee of the ESU Foundation Board.

The David Traylor Zoo of Emporia also was dear to Turnbull's heart. He served multiple terms on the Emporia Friends of the Zoo board of directors, and was its president for three terms.

For decades, Turnbull had been a member of the Emporia Masonic Lodge #12, A.F.&A.M., the Arab Shriners and Topeka Consistory of Scottish Rite, and the Royal Order of Jesters Topeka Court #125. He had been part of the Potentates Aid group of the Arab Shrine Temple of Topeka, and was a member of the Shrine organization, Order of Quetzalcoatal -- Cholula Tecoali #8 in Topeka, the Neosho Valley Shrine Club, and the Central States Shrine Motor Corporation. In 2001, he was the Shriner of the Year of the Arab Shrine.

He had taken great enjoyment from his membership in the Mini-T Shrine Unit, routinely driving his turquoise Mini-T in parades and practicing frequently to execute the coordinated driving moves that resulted in first-place awards at national Mini-T competitions.

He also was a member of the Turnbull Clan Association of the U.S. and Scotland.

The clan's history had fascinated Turnbull. An ancestor, William Rule, had saved Scotland's King Robert Bruce from death by wrestling a charging bull to the ground before it could reach the king. As a reward, Rule was given lands in Bedrule, Scotland, and had been officially given the title of Sir Turn-E-Bull, which became the Turnbull family name.

Turnbull felt an affinity for Scotland and made several trips to Bedrule and other areas of the country. At home, he donned his Turnbull plaid kilt, with all the authentic accessories, and marched at the head of the bagpipers in St. Patrick's Day parades.

His feet itched to travel and find new adventures. By 2016, he had tallied visits to 40 foreign countries, and after going into semi-retirement in recent years, time became available to travel almost at-will. He parasailed, snorkeled, enjoyed the view from the top in the Swiss Alps, and made new friends wherever he went.

He passed away peacefully, as he would have wanted, at his retreat at Lake Wabaunsee after returning from his final trip to visit close friends in North Carolina. “He died after enjoying a lifetime of bad habits,” as he so eloquently typed on a notecard contained within his final arrangements. He ensured his sense of humor would survive his passing when he stated this quote must be included in his obituary.

John Michael Turnbull, son of John Kenneth and Virgie Louise Wheat Turnbull, was born March 17, 1950, in Topeka and reared on the family's farm south of Eskridge.

His mother died when he was a small child and, although his young mind could not welcome a mother substitute at first, he grew to accept and care for stepmother Ruth Converse Turnbull as if she were his own mother.

He married Anita Jean Gladstone on April 1, 1975, in Las Vegas, Nev. They later divorced.

He was preceded in death by both parents, his stepmother, and two brothers, Kenneth Rex Turnbull and Darrell Turnbull.

He is survived by stepbrothers and their wives, Dr. Charles (Mary) Van Petten of Atchison, Edwin A. (Carolyn) Van Petten of New Brighton, Minn., and Dr. Jeff (Jackie) Van Petten of Meriden; a stepsister, Chris Van Petten of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two nephews, Duane Turnbull and Chad Turnbull; two nieces, Staci Turnbull and Debbie White; a great-niece, Carley Turnbull; step-nephews and step-nieces and their spouses, Cody Van Petten of Atchison, Molly Van Petten (Brian) Tobben, Anna Mae Van Petten (Josh) Herrera, Sarah Van Petten of St. Anthony, Minn., John Brandenburg of Roseville, Minn., Molly (Vikram) Rana of Lawrence, Marshall Thurman of New York, N.Y., Jolie Van Petten of Meriden, and Jarek Van Petten of Garden City; and great-step-nephews, Charlie and Dean Tobben; and two sisters-in-law, Janice Turnbull and Diane Bohn.

He was a member of the Westminster United Presbyterian Church.

The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church, with burial immediately following in Eskridge Cemetery. Father Pete O’Sullivan of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Paola, Kansas and retired Pastor Butch Ritter, who both served churches in Emporia, will conduct the services. Memorial donations may be made to the Emporia Friends of the Zoo, or Emporia State University baseball program.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of J. Michael Turnbull, please visit our flower store.