Brian John Turner: an avid outdoorsman, a teacher of many things to many people, grill master and food appreciator, and a quick-witted man who found joy in making others laugh, died on October 19th, 2025 in Hampshire, Illinois.
Brian John Turner, 66, was born on November 12th, 1958 to the late Robert and Marylin Turner. Brian had two older siblings (Bruce, Donna) and one younger sibling (Scott). It was the perfect family dynamic - a busy household with fighting like "cats and dogs" amongst the siblings, but protective of each other out of love. Throughout his childhood Brian stayed active as a baseball player and cross country runner at East Leyden Highschool, Franklin Park, Class of '76. Brian also had a lifelong passion for Scouting.
Brian met the love of his life, Linda, when he started visiting a friend in her neighborhood. Linda stated it was love at first sight and Brian would joke about having a stalker. They were eager to start their lives together and were married in 1981: a true match made in heaven. Brian and Linda would shortly move to an apartment and later a house in Palatine, Illinois, where family and friends were always welcome. They spent much of their time with Brian's nieces, Jessica and Hilary, who considered him a father.
In 1992 and 1994, Brian and Linda welcomed their sons into the world and built a house in Hampshire, Illinois, which was pleasantly rural for Brian's tastes. Brian loved his sons and was proud of them - Brian (Jr.) and Jacob never had to wonder otherwise. He was always there for them. He taught them everything they would need to know to survive in the world. He was proud to be a father, and overjoyed to be a grandfather to Charlotte, Nate, Jeff, and Andrew; who affectionately called him "Grampy".
Outside of his immediate family, Brian always considered his friends at Graftek Press/Brown Printing and the Woodview Parkway neighbors as a second family. He was universally loved by the senior citizens of Hampshire Township, with several residents requesting that only Brian assist them. Brian and Linda treated every one of their Golden Retrievers like family: Beau, Spencer, Wyatt, and Morty. Brian also loved Lassie and Susie, his dogs growing up.
Brian had many hobbies and interests that his loved ones will remember him by, and carry forward with them. A few in particular:
A prolific love for music was the center of his life, Brian always had music playing. He greatly enjoyed singing songs and karaoke, challenging those in his company to identify the band/album/year published, and had music for every occasion (like Johnny Mathis during Christmastime, or The Guess Who when he wanted to make his sons laugh).
In his garage, poolside, in the great outdoors, the bowling alley, the golf course, watching sports with his neighbors, family vacations…time spent with loved ones is what Brian lived for and where he truly loved life. Brian's laugh was contagious and he was known for various one-liners. He loved playing games like Left-Right-Center, Bunco, and Poop on Your Neighbor in which he took great joy revealing his "King". He will fondly be remembered for the vacation spots he loved - Camping at the Warren Dunes, fishing trips to Hayward, "Island View" Minnesota, Colorado, and Camp Shin-Go-Beek.
His cooking will be greatly missed, as Brian loved to bring containers of food to all who would enjoy it. Particularly the way he perfected marinating and grilling any cut of meat, his salsa with homegrown jalapeno, Minestrone and French Onion soup, and stuffed jalapeno peppers. On the topic of food - he will fondly be remembered for eating Oreos and EL Fudge Cookies, chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup, chocolate malts, chips with vinegar, potatoes, and milk. His son remarked he had never seen him eat fruit.
Services will be held at 11am on November 8 at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Rd., Huntley, IL. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring of 2026. A good man's life is measured by the lives that he touches.
• Loving husband of Linda (Gorski)
• Devoted Father to Brian (wife Erin) and Jacob
• Loving Brother to the late Bruce Turner, Donna Toriani (husband Dale), Scott (wife Kathi)
• Loving Brother-In-Law to Laura Sewall (late husband Andrew), and Elizabeth Kalish (husband Timothy)
• Loving Uncle to Jason (wife Sarah), Christopher (wife Alysia), Michelle Sullivan (husband Ron), Jessica Korabik (Eric), Hilary Wischmeyer (husband Dave), Lucas, Timothy Segebarth (wife Christina), and Benjamin Segebarth
• Cherished grandfather to Charlotte, Nathaniel, Jeffrey, and Andrew
• Loving great uncle to Alan, Jorden (Amber), Alex and Colin Kuchay, Ethan and Ava McNeely, Ashlyn and Landon Wischmeyer, and Joanna Segebarth
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
I still can’t believe you’re gone. I talk to you every night and morning . We will miss going to Door County your laughter was contagious. I hope you are at peace and we will all meet again. I love you! ❤️
Linda and family, You are in our hearts and prayers. May God be the comfort and strength you need in this time.
We are so sad to hear about Brian. To know Brian was to love Brian. He was a great friend and a great neighbor. Every year we would take a group of kids in our neighborhood "trick or treating"while the adults followed for "trick or hooching" with beverages in hand. Afterwards it was back to our house to roast hot dogs and marshmallows outside. You never knew when Brian would show up at our house to take a dip in the pool and have a "brewski". He would always be so excited if someone was going to Colorado and bringing him back a case of Coors. Every Turner party had a card game and Jerry said he can remember Brian always sitting there yelling "DEAL". My favorite memory of him is when he asked me to come to his house on his wedding day and help with his tie. I was so touched. And who could forget the Wisconsin State Fair weekends and the endless parties. You just loved being with Brian. He was always the "life of the party". He made people happy and he was always laughing. I remember reading somewhere that when someone you love becomes a memory that memory becomes a treasure. Brian was a treasure! You will be missed...Thanks for the memories. Our deepest sympathy to Linda and the wonderful Turner/Gorski family. God help you through these hard times. Love, Jerry,Candace & Amanda
In Loving Memory of Brian I met Brian as a young father—his boys, Brian Jr. and Jacob, just a toddler and infant. Over the years, he and my son Ronnie became close friends and neighbors, sharing laughter, football games, and countless hours around the big screen. Brian was a jokester with a big heart. He loved his beer, his Bears, and his hockey. I’ll always remember his delight when I brought back Cuban cigars for him from the Caribbean—his eyes lit up every time. Our families were intertwined. Brian Jr. and Jacob grew up alongside my twin granddaughters, Amy and Kara. From preschool days with Allison to after-school hours until they were old enough to be on their own, we shared a rhythm of care and connection. Brian Jr., now a proud father of four, carries forward his dad’s legacy. Jacob, ever steady, keeps the home humming with quiet dedication. Brian spent his final day doing what he loved—watching the Bears beat the Saints 26–14 with Ronnie and the neighborhood crew in the basement man cave, surrounded by recliners, bar stools, and stadium blankets. He left that gathering in high spirits, embraced by friendship and celebration. Brian’s passing broke our hearts. But his legacy of humor, loyalty, and love lives on in all of us who knew him. With deepest sympathy, Patti Wehrs
Donna, I cannot begin to tell you how very sorry I am for the loss of your brother who was also such a wonderful brother, father, husband grandpa etc. etc.I’m still in disbelief. He will be so very missed whether it’s at one of the kids birthday parties, a holiday get together, etc. You and your siblings and Linda “Jake and Brian are in my thoughts and prayers today and in the days do come as his hiss loss will continue his felt in the minutes, hours, days & weeks to come.🙏🏻❤️
Attending all activities of Hampshire Township Seniors on the Go, we knew Brian as a wonderful person. He was so reliable, so kind, treated us with care. He was the safest driver, the greatest guy to talk to at our events. I know I speak for our entire senior group, we send our deepest sympathy, our prayers are flowing to Brian’s family🙏🏻. Brian will be missed everyday. God bless the family with the comfort you need. Rest in peace Brian✝️