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The youngest council member for the city of
Lincoln, he was also a devoted husband, new father, hardworking
employee, loving son and brother, invested in lifetime friendships,
and was a follower of Christ.
Those who met him in the course of business say
that he was quiet-spirited and soft-spoken, yet one who lived with
passion and delivered on his promises.
Turner and his wife, Sarah, recently had their
first child. Nathan cherished his roles as both husband and father,
enthusiastically looking for special ways to celebrate those
relationships.
While living in their own home just a few
blocks from downtown Lincoln, Turner's employment with Caterpillar
as a project manager took him out of town to Morton daily. It even
took him out of the country from time to time. Last fall he
spent a few weeks working in Africa.
He was global-minded not just in his work; he
also voluntarily served humanitarian efforts across the world
through his church.
Closer to home, Nathan began representing the
citizens of Lincoln as Ward 4 alderman on the Lincoln City
Council. May 1 would have marked the end of his first
year on the council. And although that isn't much time by most
standards, Turner made a mark in his brief moment of city
leadership.
LDN's city reporter, Nila Smith, recalls that
Turner came into city council quietly and unassuming. He didn't
start right away trying to change the world and make things go his
way. However, when he spoke up on
something, it was with a great deal of thought, and he stood his
ground. He didn't go along with doing something just because
it's the way it has always been done or because it was the popular
vote. When he asked questions, they were intelligent ones, well worth
answering, she said.
Lincoln Mayor Keith Snyder wrote, "The entire
City of Lincoln is saddened at Nathan's passing. He was so
impressive on so many levels. He was incredibly bright; he was
personable; he cared deeply about people and serving them well. He
was already making a positive mark on the City as an alderman. More
important than that, though, he was terrific at the things that
matter most: he was a trusted friend, a good son, a loving husband,
and a great dad. That's the legacy we all want to leave, and Nathan
left a great one."
Snyder encouraged, "I ask everyone to
keep Sarah, Nathan's parents, and all of his family and friends in
their prayers."
When running for office, Turner talked about why
he was running and how he felt about our community:
"I am running for city council because our city
needs sound financial leadership. Lincoln is a wonderful place, full
of hardworking, caring, generous people. But the city of Lincoln is
also a $12 million enterprise whose decisions impact you and I on a
daily basis. Our city needs leaders who will run Lincoln like the
business it is.
"In these uncertain economic times, we have to
think outside the box. We live in such a giving community; together
we can come up with many creative solutions. Despite our country's
financial struggles, Lincoln has the potential to thrive.
"It is important that we plan for our future so
our children and grandchildren will inherit a city they can be proud
of."
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Turner set his mark high with these words:
"You deserve leaders that will make use of the
many wonderful resources we have in Lincoln. In my opinion, our best
resource is our people. You deserve a city government that is
interactive and responsive to your thoughts, concerns and ideas. No
one can improve Lincoln alone, but together we can."
Turner also served his community through
involvement in the Lincoln & Logan County Development
Partnership. Recently he helped to set up the new business
incubator program.
Sonnie Alexander was co-chair with Nathan on
that project, now named Center of Success. But her
friendship and knowledge of Nathan goes further back than that.
"I have known Nathan since he was a child," she
said. "He was always special. He was a worshipper, a wealth of good
information and help. He was so knowledgeable, so easy to work with
and so organized, way beyond someone his age.
"His death is a great loss to not only his
family, but the community as well," Alexander said.
Dr. Kristen Green-Morrow, current president of
the development partnership, didn't know Nathan as long as Alexander,
but she too felt the community has suffered a loss.
"He was so helpful with The Center of Success,"
Green-Morrow said. "He engineered the plans and was very dedicated.
When he was on a business trip to South Africa, he called Joel (Joel
Smiley, executive director of the partnership) to make sure
everything was going well with the plans for the center."
She also recalls Nathan as really smart and
motivated, "and he gave selflessly of himself to help the community.
His loss is not only to his family, but Logan County as well."
The community has lost a most valued resource
in Nathan Turner. But we can continue to emulate this young man who
loved and served his family, his friends, his church and his
community, and worked with conviction and integrity.
Perhaps to bring some justification to the loss
of one so young and talented, we can each try to honor this truly
remarkable young man by imitating his attitude and actions toward
life, home, family, friends, community and in our beliefs.
[LDN staff]
(Read more about
Turner's involvements.)
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