James Wesley Turek

James Wesley Turek, 52, a 34 year resident of Pasadena, MD, died on September 28, 2021 at the University of Maryland Regional Medical Center in Laurel, MD.

Mr. Turek was born on August 20, 1969 in Baltimore, MD to James and Diane Turek. He graduated from Brooklyn Park High School in 1987 and then began attending Anne Arundel Community College. Jim eventually transferred to UMBC where he graduated in the early 1990s with a degree in Political Science.

While still in college, Mr. Turek worked for Hechinger’s and even started the company’s first Commercial Sales Division. In 1999, he took a job with Lowe’s where he remained until 2001. From 2001 to 2013, Jim served as the Operations Plant Manager for Weyerhaeuser.

After finding much success in the commercial business world, Mr. Turek began a new adventure in 2015 when he started teaching in the Anne Arundel County Public School System. He began this new career at the Center for Applied Technology South before transferring in 2021 to CAT North. Mr. Turek was a talented and dedicated craftsman who had the ability to convey his knowledge to students with ease.   During this time, he also taught Continuing Education classes at Anne Arundel Community College as an Adjunct Faculty Member.  

Outside of work, Jim loved being outdoors and working with his hands. He was a man with many interests and an overwhelming amount of knowledge on many topics which he loved sharing with others.  Over the years he has enjoyed fishing, sea duck hunting, carpentry, woodworking, photography and herpetology. In 2004, he assisted the Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society in the investigation of vessel remains in the St. Mary's River.  He and his son also worked with the Smithsonian Institute to collect data for The Maryland Biodiversity Project. He was very well-respected in his field and built lasting relationships.

Mr. Turek was a current member of Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church in Pasadena and formerly of St. Rose of Lima in Baltimore.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Turek is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Suzanne Turek; son, James A. Turek of Pasadena; daughters, Elise M. and Melissa A. Turek, both of Pasadena; and brother, Richard Turek, also of Pasadena.

Family and friends may visit on Sunday, October 3 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Stallings Funeral Home, 3111 Mountain Rd., Pasadena, MD 21122. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church, 8325 Ventnor Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Cemetery, after which a reception will be held at Our Lady of the Chesapeake's Gathering Place.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Orianne Society, 11 Old Fruitstand Lane, Tiger, Georgia 30576 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.