James "Jim" F. Turnquist, 89, of Clermont, FL passed away Monday, May 18, 2020 at the Mike Conley Hospice House.  Jim was born on December 8, 1930 in Flushing, Queens, NY, son of Torvald Uno and Myrtle May (nee Kane) Turnquist.  He served in the U.S. Air Force before attending the Culinary Institute of America.  After completing that he worked as a manager in food service for the Grumman Corporation.  Also during that time he served in the U.S. Coast Guard achieving the rank of Senior Chief Petty Office before retirement.  Jim and his wife, Irene, moved to Clermont 23 years ago, one of the pioneer couples of the Kings Ridge Community.

Jim is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Irene; loving father of Jamie Lynn (Jeff) Yingling and Christopher J. Turnquist; step-children, Laurie Ann (Michael) Parsons, Stephen D. (Denise) Martin and Julie G. Arata; sister, Dorothy Brown and 5 grandchildren, Matthew Parsons, Hayley Martin, Diana Martin, Kaitlyn Arata and Meghan Arata.  Jim was predeceased by 6 siblings.

Jim volunteered all his life to serve others.  Upon his retirement from the Grumman Corporation he served as a driver for the VA in Long Island, NY, transporting retired veterans to their medical appointments.  When he moved to Clermont he volunteered for 18 years at South Lake Hospital.  After he "retired" from SLH, he continued to volunteer for Cornerstone Hospice "Mike Conley House" honoring veterans in the Salute to Veteran's Program.

Jim was very active in the Kings Ridge Community.  He was an original member of the Men's Golf Association, the Hackers Golf Club, the New York Club, where he served as Chaplain and the Men's Club, where you could find him in the kitchen helping with preparations for their meetings.

A Celebration of Jim's life will be held at a later date and he will be interred at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.  The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Jim's name to the Mike Conley Hospice House, 2100 Oakley Seaver Dr., Clermont, FL 34711.