Cliff Buchan
News Editor

In the 1930s, turkey farming and the Thurnbeck name were synonymous. At one point in Forest Lake area history, four Thurnbeck brothers raised turkeys.

Now they are all gone. George M. Thurnbeck, the last of the turkey-raising Thurnbeck brothers, died on Thursday, July 27, 2006. He was 94.

He was one of four sons and three daughters born to John and Catherine (Hauble) Thurnbeck on their farm in Columbus Township. George Thurnbeck grew up working the farm and like many of his day, left school after Grade 8 to help his family work the farm.

Thurnbeck would remain true to his agriculture roots, but did return to school, said his son Darrell, who runs the turkey farm yet today. When he was in his mid-20s, George Thurnbeck enrolled in the University of Minnesota Ag School where he earned his degree and excelled at wrestling and playing the saxophone, his son said.

In 1930, Thurnbeck partnered with a brother, Clem, to launch Thurnbeck Farms and raise turkeys. While the Banta brothers are generally credited with being the areaís first turkey farmers, the Thurnbeck operation set a new standard.

It started a change in the area farming community that saw as many as 16 turkey farms start up. Brothers Frank Thurnbeck raised turkeys in Wyoming and Larry Thurnbeck raised turkeys in Forest Lake Township.

The combined efforts here helped pioneer the industry in the state.

A good farmer

George Thurnbeck was a good farmer, said his longtime friend and business associate, Willard Houle whose family owns the E.J. Houle Feed Mill in Forest Lake.

ìIt was a good operation,î Houle said of the Thurnbeck farm. ìIt was so good they made it through the turkey crash.î

That was in 1961 when over production sent the price for turkey meat to all-time lows. For turkey farmers, it meant a loss of 50 cents to $2.50 a bird, Houle recalled.

Because of growers like the Thurnbeck brothers and numerous other farmers in the area, Forest Lake at one time contended for the top spot in turkey production in the state. The crash of 1961 brought that to a close as many of the area farmers went broke.

ìHe was a good manager, a good farmer,î Houle said.

Darrell Thurnbeck was just a youth when the market crashed in 1961. He believes the reason the operation survived was due to its integration of operations.

By the late 1950s, Thurnbeck Farms had its own meat birds, a hatchery and breeder hens, meat processing facilities and produced turkey feed on the farm. ìWe did it back then on a small scale,î Darrell said of the integration.

The farm would produce 70,000 to 100,000 birds a year for meat and kept another 3000 to 4000 laying hens.

ìThat was his life,î he said of his fatherís love of farming. ìHe was always so easy-going. He had the temperament to be a turkey farmer.î

Clem Thurnbeck passed away in 1970 and Darrell has been in charge of the farm since that time. Frank Thurnbeck died in 1997 and Larry Thurnbeck in 2002.

Forest Hills role

George Thurnbeck also played a key role in the founding of Forest Hills Golf Club.

In the late 1950s he joined with a number of area leaders to help acquire land and design what was to be Forest Hills. Along with his brother Larry, he helped buy land for the golf course in 1958.

A year later, the first round of golf was played, said Houle who was also part of the planning effort.

Houle said he logged many rounds of golf with Thurnbeck over the years. ìHe was a kind, gentle man,î Houle said of his friend.

Thurnbeck was also a lifelong member at St. Peterís Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Funeral details

A Mass of Christian Burial for George M. Thurnbeck will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Peterís Catholic Church with visitation from 5-8 p.m. today (Thursday) at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake.

He is survived by his children Diane (Roy) Rueb and Darrell Thurnbeck; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters Betty Vanselow, Swanville, and Marry Charpentier, Oak Park Heights.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian, three brothers, and one sister, Milly Knutson.

Memorials may be directed to a charity of choice in George Thurnbeckís name.

Top of Page

Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605