John Turke

John Phillip Turke, 41, of Keller, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in Keller. John’s life began on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, on June 8, 1983, to proud parents Anthony Turke (USAF Ret.) and Clara Turke. From there, the family moved to assignments in New York, Florida, and Panama, giving John a cultured view of the world and helping him make lifelong friends along the way before finally settling in Oklahoma in 1995.

Following high school, John proudly followed in the footsteps of his father and older brother, Guillermo Turke, by enlisting in the United States Air Force, where he served his country with honor, dignity, and integrity. After separating from the Air Force he continued his career as an air traffic controller for the FAA. John was an inspiring activist and dedicated leader within NATCA for many years, passionately representing his fellow air traffic controllers and ensuring they had a powerful collective voice in their workplace. His unwavering commitment to serving others was a defining aspect of his life. 

During his time in the Air Force, John met the love of his life, Jill Portillo. They were married on June 11, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and for the next 20 years, they were inseparable. Jill was John’s better half, and John was the ketchup to Jill’s everything. On December 25, 2010, John and Jill welcomed their first son, Ethan, and two years later, on March 29, 2012, their family was complete with the arrival of Evan.

John’s pride in his sons was evident in the love he showed and the time he spent with them, coaching them in soccer and teaching them about life every day. John was deeply involved in his local soccer community and was adored by his players for his passion. However, his same fierce love for the game often left the referees no choice but to ban him from the field. That didn’t deter John or diminish his love for soccer.

John is survived by his loving wife, Jill Turke, and their sons, Ethan and Evan Turke; his parents, Anthony and Clara Turke; his siblings, Guillermo Turke (wife Ilyanna), Michael Turke (wife Belgica), and Cathy (Turke) Axelsson (husband Pär); his mother-in-law, Kim Duncan (husband Tim); his brother-in-law, Jason Portillo; his grandmother-in-law, Ann Brooks; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Lucas Funeral Home in Keller, Texas. John’s legacy will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be missed tremendously and loved even more.