Carl "Mike" Turkal

Carl “Mike” Turkal, 89, peacefully passed away March 29, 2020 at his home in Massillon surrounded by family. A first generation American, Mike was born November 30, 1930 to the late Peter and Dora (Kasunic) Turkal in Massillon. He was the beloved husband of Julie Ann Eaglowski, his wife of 63 beautiful years. Mike married Julie on October 27, 1956, and together they became devoted parents to four daughters, Carlene (David) Woodring, Allison (Mark) Fischer, Kristin Leigh Turkal and Josette (Robert) Casenhiser. Mike was a 1950 graduate of Washington High School and a center on the Tigers’ state championship football team under Coach Chuck Mather. Following his graduation, he served his country as an Air Policeman in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in Vienna, Austria to perform a variety of Special Missions in Central Europe during the Cold War. He took part in the declassification of Tulln Air Base prior to handing it over to the Austrian Air Force in 1955. Mike attended the University of Kansas and then returned to law enforcement, serving on the Massillon City Police Department for 27 years until his retirement in 1984. Mike was the city’s first plainclothes detective, a role that earned him the department’s first unmarked police cruiser and took him as far as Australia for his cases. Mike’s love for traveling and his talent for skillfully adapting to his surroundings allowed him to succeed in every position he undertook. Mike established the Fraternal Order of Police #105 in Massillon and he was a charter member of the Army-Navy Garrison #207. In retirement, he further served his community as President of the Massillon City Council. Mike was dedicated to the people in his life and he will forever be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father, Deda, uncle and friend. A proud Croatian, Mike was an active member of Massillon’s Croatian community and looked forward to traveling across the country with his nephews Bobby and Pete Turkalj to compete in bowling tournaments hosted by local Croatian clubs. When he wasn’t on the road for national tournaments, Mike could be found at Massillon’s Starway Lanes on Monday nights earning numerous trophies for high game honors and league championships. Mike also loved driving down to Cape Hatteras, a very special place to him. Every summer, he would gather together his family and travel to the beach, where they made memories fishing and crabbing, reading books, building puzzles and playing cards. Those cherished summer nights were filled with lively games of Canasta and eating the fresh seafood that Mike had caught that morning. A true outdoorsman, Mike also liked to hunt, and he spent many years enjoying his hunting and fishing trips. On Saturdays in the fall, you were likely to find Mike cheering on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He traveled to South Bend at least once every season (even this past season for the game against the Virginia Cavaliers) to cheer them on in person and light candles at the Grotto. On Sundays, he attended mass at St. Barbara Catholic Church, where he was a parishioner since 1957. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Kristin and his brothers John Turkal, George Turkal and Ernest Turkalj. In addition to his wife Julie and his daughters Carlene, Allison and Josette, he leaves to cherish his memory his grandchildren Doranne (Brandon) Shank, Marlene (Trevor) Harris, Kathryn (Matt) Miller, Olivia Casenhiser, Maria Fischer, Mackensie (Chris) Emco, Patrick (Tiffany) Casenhiser and Anna Fischer, and his great-grandchildren Emma, Kayelene, William, Elijah, Leyna, Tanner, Norah, Layla, Garrett and Heath, who all remember him for his playful smile and always eating dessert before dinner. His grandchildren and greatgrandchildren hold dear the countless Croatian traditions and memories he shared with them and are so proud to call him “Deda.” A private mass and burial have been planned with a public memorial service to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mike’s memory to St. Barbara Church-Memorial Fund.