Gerry Turner's First Wife Hid Health Diagnosis Before Sudden Passing

Gerry Turner reminisces about the shock of realising his first wife "wanted no one" to know about her health condition after her passing in 2017.

In his new publication, Golden Years: What I've Learned from Love, Loss, and Reality TV, the 74-year-old former Golden Bachelor contestant reflects on the period when he began "sorting through" Toni's belongings following her death from a bacterial infection that summer.

"Concealed at the bottom of a bathroom drawer, evidently to ensure nobody discovered it, I stumbled upon evidence of her type 2 diabetes diagnosis," Turner wrote.

He continued, "There was a stack of pamphlets, prescription notes, a blood sugar monitor, and other related items — clearly unused.

"She had never mentioned this significant diagnosis to her daughters or me, and by all appearances, she had ignored it."

The revelation, Turner noted in his book, left him grappling with "hypothetical scenarios."

"Diabetes, when left untreated or poorly managed, can strain the body, especially the kidneys," he explained. 

"Could Toni have had the opportunity for a longer life, but was ultimately undone by the belief that expressing pain was indulgent? Did I inadvertently feed into this mindset? Why did she not feel secure enough to disclose such a critical health matter to me? Losing a loved one is always tragic. 

"However, contemplating the possibility, no matter how slight, that she might have lived beyond her passing makes it all the more heartbreaking."

Turner highlighted that the most "heart-wrenching" aspect of Toni's demise was her "lack of confidence to share her reality with anyone."

Turner had earlier discussed with PEOPLE the enduring bond he shared with his high school sweetheart, Toni, whom he married in 1972. 

They had two wonderful daughters, Jenny and Angie. She passed away just weeks after they acquired a lakeside home in Indiana in July 2017.

“She dedicated her life to reaching the point where she could enjoy retirement and have fun, and it was cruelly taken from her,” Gerry lamented. “That's the thought that constantly troubles me.”

“On each anniversary of her passing, Jenny, Angie, and I exchange sentiments like, ‘If she were still here, she’d be captivated by this today,’ or ‘She would surely enjoy this,’ ” Gerry elaborated on how they keep Toni's spirit alive.

Turner later found new love with Theresa Nist during the filming of The Golden Bachelor in August 2023, but they went their separate ways in April 2024 after having announced their decision to divorce.

The duo shared the news of their separation during a chat on Good Morning America on April 12, 2024.

Turner has since announced his engagement to his new partner, Lana Sutton, whom he began seeing in the spring.