Our Staff
Our dedicated and supportive staff are here to guide you through this difficult journey. We take pride in doing our absolute best to ensure your needs are met. We are here for you.
Greg & Jody Jenness
Licensed Funeral Director & Owners
Greg has been on staff as a funeral director at Turner Funeral Homes since 1996. He previously served at funeral homes in Sioux City, Iowa and Oak Park, Illinois. Greg has lived in northwest Iowa his entire life, graduating from Primghar High School. He received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Northwestern College in Orange City and in 1995 graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake and is a member of Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis. Greg enjoys officiating high school football and spending time with family.
Jody was raised and educated in Milford, graduating from Okoboji High School in 1991. She received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Management at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Jody is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, where she plays the piano and is an Elder in the Session and has been active in the Spirit Lake Community School system as a volunteer in many organizations. She enjoys taking walks with the dog, attending kid's activities and spending time with her family.
Greg and Jody purchased the family business in 2010 from longtime business owner, Jerry Turner. The funeral home name changed to Turner Jenness Family Funeral Home at that time.
Greg and Jody are the parents of four children; Jacob and his wife, Miranda, Tyler, Kailee and Emma. They have been blessed in adding Michael Leichtweis and Moritz Arndt, from Germany and Venice Van Der Plas and Isa Doggers from the Netherlands, to their family.
Claudia Dicks
Licensed Funeral Director
Claudia became part of the funeral home staff in May of 2021. Claudia is a native of Fonda, Iowa. She graduated from Newell-Fonda High School in 2014 and earned her BA in Psychology from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa in 2018. She then attended DMACC School of Mortuary Science where she received her Advanced Standing Diploma in Mortuary Science. Claudia has been a licensed director since November of 2020. She previously served at funeral homes in the Storm Lake area.
In her free time, Claudia enjoys spending time with her husband, Brady, and son, Beckett. Claudia is a member of First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji.
Jim Kennedy
Advanced Planning Consultant
Jim Kennedy has been working with Turner Jenness Funeral Homes for the past four years, helping families plan their services and guiding them through the funeral trust process. Jim has nearly four decades of insurance, banking and real estate experience. He obtained his BA from Iowa State University and his MBA from the University of Sioux Falls. His wife Lila is a retired teacher, having taught at Central Lyon schools for 37 years. Lila is active with classes at the YMCA and P.E.O., and Jim has appeared in dozens of theater productions at River Valley Players (Rock Rapids IA), Okoboji Summer Theatre and Iowa Lakes Community College. Jim and Lila live in Okoboji and have two children and four grandchildren.
Billie Jo Sedam
Advanced Planning Consultant
Billie Jo Sedam joined Turner Jenness Funeral Homes as their Advance Planning Consultant in 2024. She is passionate about helping families create a meaningful funeral service, which honors their life and helps ease the burden of loss for their loved ones. She is a native of Inwood, IA. Has a BA degree in Human Resource Management. Her husband of over 22 years, is a retired Army Lt. Col, and has 5 children.
Mike Earnest
Licensed Funeral Director
Mike Earnest has been a licensed funeral director for over 50 years. After semi-retirement, Earnest moved to the lakes area and has been assisting Turner Jenness Funeral Home since 2010.
He is a member of First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Mike has been married to Vicki for over 55 years and they have two children and four grandchildren.
Mick Baack
Support Staff
Mick is a support staff worker for Turner Jenness Funeral Home. Mick started at the funeral home in 2012. His duties include assisting families during visitations and services.
Mick has been a resident of Milford since 2000 when his family moved from Houston, Texas. He is married to Jeanette Baack and is member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Milford. Mick and his wife have six children.