John D. Turnbull

Funeral Director & Owner

John was born January 6, 1950 in Monmouth, and is the son of David and Ruth Buchholz Turnbull.   John attended Lincoln Grade School and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1968.  He then attended two years at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and finished a Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Upon returning to Monmouth, he entered his apprenticeship with his father David at Turnbull Funeral Home and having received his license has completed a career in the operations of Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth and Oquawka, Illinois.  His career has spanned 50 years and he is the fourth generation of the Turnbull family to operate the business.  John married Denise Pierce on September 21, 1974 in Monmouth, Illinois. They have two children Zachary Turnbull in Spencer, Indiana and Natalie Main in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and two grandchildren Maxwell Alexander Turnbull and Ruth Annalie Main.  John has been active in community affairs and served on various committees throughout the period.  He also has, for many years, been active in the Warren County Prime Beef Festival and has served three terms on the Warren County Board. He is a member of Monmouth Rotary Club and the Monmouth Masonic Lodge 37. A note of interest is that John’s Great Grandfather David Turnbull is the first president of the Commerce Club, the predecessor of the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce. His father and John are both former presidents of the Monmouth Area Chamber Chamber of Commerce. His interests include English Setters, bagpipes, and piano.  He is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church.  

Tony L. Cook

Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer

Tony was born in Monmouth, Illinois the son of Robert and Connie (Bates) Cook. He attended schools in Monmouth and is a graduate of Monmouth High School. He attended Carl Sandburg College and the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute where he received certification as a Certified Firefighter III. He also achieved certification as a Certified Fire Officer. His coursework was extensive in Management, Tactics and Strategy, Instructor, and Roadway Extrication. Tony has been employed with the Monmouth Fire Department since 1996 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Prior to his employment, he served for 5 years with the Monmouth Volunteer Fire Company. Tony has spent his entire career serving the needs of the people of Monmouth and surrounding communities with his work in public safety. Tony married Leslie James of Glenview, Illinois and together they have one daughter Aubrey. Aubrey married Zach McVey and they continue to live in the area.

Tony began his employment with Turnbull Funeral Home in the winter of 2012 as a funeral assistant. He now serves as a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer.

Tony has spent his entire life in the City of Monmouth. Owned a local small business, Cook’s Upholstery, which he closed in 2014 to pursue a career with the funeral home. Tony spends his time enjoying many hobbies and interests which include the study of U.S. History, woodworking, cooking, collecting, and competitive pistol shooting. His main interest is traveling and enjoying time with his family. Tony is Past Master of Monmouth Masonic Lodge #37. He is a member of USPSA. He currently is serving a four-year term as the retiree representative of the Monmouth Fire Department Pension Fund, and serves as Vice President of the Warren County History Museum Board.

James Albert

Funeral Assistant

James Albert “Albie” Huff, age 70, of Monmouth, Illinois was born on February 21, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois and is the son of James A. and Mary Weir Huff.  Albie was raised in what is now known as the “Stewart House” located at 1015 East Euclid Avenue. He first attended Garfield Elementary school in Monmouth and then the Leelanau Schools in Glen Arbor, Michigan. He then graduated from Monmouth High School with the class of 1970.   Albie then attended Monmouth College, being the third generation of his family to do so, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.  While at Monmouth College he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and was awarded the F.Garvin Davenport Prize for Excellence in the study of History.  Albie served ten years in the United States Navy Reserve where he received training as an Emergency Medical Technician.  Albie married Sandy Johnson in 1974, and together they have two daughters, Kristin and her husband Paul Hallahan who reside in Chicago, Illinois and Mary and "DJ" Cook and their daughter Maeve who reside in Monmouth, Illinois.   

Albie first was employed by Dave Turnbull at the funeral home in Monmouth, as an assistant, before employments at Monmouth Post office and the Community National Bank.  He then enjoyed a successful career in sales and business development at Key Outdoor, Inc., Cole Harford Company, and lastly NAMCO Cybertainment, INC. in Chicago, Illinois.   Albie then joined John Turnbull as an assistant in the operations at Turnbulls in 2009 to the present.

Albie enjoys sports, reading, playing golf, walking his golden retriever Izzy, and socializing with his many friends.

Daniel L. Watson

Funeral Assistant/Attendant

Daniel L. Watson of Monmouth, was born on October 29, 1972 in Monmouth, and is the son of Dan and Lou Watson. Dan was raised in Monmouth and attended Garfield Grade School, Central Junior High and graduated from Monmouth High School with the class of 1991. After graduating from High School "Danny" went to recieve his Emergency Medical Technician License that year, and began work for United Ambulance Service operated by Dave Penny from 1991 to 2000. Dan married his High School sweetheart Leann M. Vervinck in 1993 and they currently have two daughters, Brittany and Amy. He also served as a Volunteer Fireman for thirteen years here in the City of Monmouth. He then worked at the Well Pet Food of Monmouth, and then in 2006 began work for the city of Monmouth as a full time Fireman.  Dan was raised in the Foursquare Gospel Church family and was actively involved with their affairs. Dan is employed by Turnbull Funeral Home, as a Funeral Assistant and Attendant when he's not working as a Fireman. Dan and Leann enjoy camping and spending time with family. 

Robert C. Stinemates

Assistant

Robert C. Stinemates also known as "Bobby" was born on May 22, 1951 in Monmouth and is the son of Dorothy and Rolland Stinemates. Bobby was raised near Ponema and Larchland in rural Warren County where he attended Liberty Rural School and graduated from Yourkwood High School in 1969.  After his schooling he was employed by Ray Green Motors in sales a the Monmouth dealership for six years.  He then was in sales for Frank Skifidis at Prince Motors until he closed and then was in sales for Ron Hicks, at City Ford in Monmouth until they closed. Bob has been in auto sales locally for forty plus years. Robert married Diana Moore on June 9, 1985 in Monmouth and they were married thirty-one years before she passed in 2015. He has been a member of the Gerlaw Christian Church in Gerlaw for over eighteen years and has served as Deacon and Elder and has been very involved with his church and affairs. Bobby enjoys employment at Turnbull Funeral Home as an assistant and loves greeting his friends and neighbors in all that they do. Bobby also has helped and been a friend of DeWayne Sperlin in Galesburg at the Pizza House for a number of years. 

James C. Epperson

Funeral Assistant

James C. "Jim" Epperson, was born in Murray, Iowa on September 22, 1943.  He was raised in Onawa, Iowa and is the son of Pastor Everett and Ruthe Epperson. He is a graduate of the Onawa High School class of 1962. He then attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and later the Nebraska Christian College of Norfolk, Nebraska. He did some graduate work at the University of Nebraska where he was definitely a "Corn Husker". His career in the Christian Church ministry was in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Missouri and spans fifty-nine years to the present. Jim married Pam Beedle in Onawa, Iowa and they have been married for fifty-three years, coming to Monmouth in 1990 and pastoring the 1st Christian Church. Jim has services locally on Sunday at Various Monmouth facilities and currently pastors in Wataga. Since 1990 Jim has ministered "The Winner Circle" and "Just Minute" radio ministry on WRAM. He began as a Funeral Assistant with Turnbull Funeral Home, and enjoys meeting and greeting his friends at the front door. If you wish to meet Jim, just ask about the "Corn Huskers" or his bald head. 

Myra J. Bell

Funeral Assistant/Housekeeper

Myra Bell was born in Monmouth, Illinois to Everette and Geraldine Giddings Bell on May 2, 1955. She was raised in rural Henderson County and attended Rozetta and Biggsville grade schools. She graduated from Union High School with the class of 1973.  She has two sisters, Mary Ann and Marcia, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and four great great nephews. After High School Myra helped her dad, Everette, on the farm in Warren and Henderson Counties. She began her employment with Turnbull Funeral Home in 2003 as a funeral assistant and housekeeper. She is a member and Elder of the Sugar Tree Grove Church and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoys reading, nature, and living in the country.