Visitation will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Church of the Resurrection - Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224, followed by the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m.
He will be laid to rest in Pleasant Valley Cemetery with immediate family only following the memorial service; 9501 W. 159th Street, Overland Park, KS 66221.
Memorial contributions may be made to Herbel School of Accountancy at Kansas State University, Monarch Hospice in Overland Park, or Red Tail Academy: a 501(c)(3) in Kansas City with the mission to create opportunities to expose, educate, and mentor underrepresented youth (ages 12-18) in the aviation field. Red Tail Academy was founded by local pilots and aviation enthusiasts who are passionate about helping youth overcome the many barriers into the world of aviation.
Wayne B. Turner was born May 28, 1957 in Kansas City, KS. He was a responsible role-model early on, gladly walking his little sister, Cassandra, to Elementary school every day. One of his greatest achievements came at a young age, earning his pilot’s license and flying a Cessna 180 airplane solo when he was only 16 years old. His daughters like to say that he could fly a plane before he could drive a car. Wayne attended Shawnee Mission North High School, where he made many of his lifelong best friends. He graduated second in his Accounting class at Kansas State University, which demonstrated his strong foundation in academic excellence.
Wayne earned his CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and worked for a big 4 accounting firm, Ernst & Young. At the height of his career, he managed 30 employees as a CPA Controller for Van Toyota and Van Chevrolet. He married Anna Kuklenski in 1989 and became a father with the birth of Michelle on July 31, 1991 and the birth of Julie on November 12, 1992.
Wayne had a great sense of humor and loved to joke around. He loved flying, a passion he shared with his father Warren. He also loved numbers and bookkeeping, a skill he learned from his mother Hilda at the family business, Turner Auto Upholstery. He was a big planner and a perfectionist, two traits that he passed down to his daughters, Julie and Michelle. Wayne enjoyed playing pool (billiards), bowling, and watching movies with his kids. He also loved watching sports; his favorite teams to root for were the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Royals, and K-State Football. He was a loyal, good friend to many people.
Wayne had a spirit of optimism despite circumstances. He spread light, laughter and joy to everyone around him with his clever jokes and witty stories, always told with a smile on his face. Wayne loved deeply, which was obvious in his consistent phone calls to his daughters every Tuesday and Thursday for the last 30 years. He enjoyed hearing about their school days, which turned into careers, their hardships where he provided comfort and emotional support, and most of all, he enjoyed reminiscing about their childhood with the Kuklenski family. Wayne regularly talked about playing Santa Claus for his nieces and nephews and driving to the Lake of the Ozarks with his sleeping daughters in tow.
Wayne was a disciplined, self-motivated leader who strived to do the right thing at all times. He never missed a Sunday church service and always wore his Sunday best. If you knew him, you’d know he loved the Lord and couldn’t wait for the day he’d see his mother and father again in Heaven.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda M. Boehm, and his father, Warren B. Turner. He is survived by his eldest daughter, Michelle Turner Thompson, and son-in-law, Tony Thompson; his youngest daughter, Julie Turner and grandson, Tatum Lockhart; his sister, Cassandra Kinney, and brother-in-law, Don Kinney; his former wife, Anna Turner Sloan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.
