Gerry Turner, a contestant on the first season of The Golden Bachelor, had a rich romantic history before finding love on the show. Prior to getting engaged to Theresa Nist on the series, Gerry had been in a long-term relationship and was married for over four decades.
Gerry’s former wife was his high school sweetheart named Toni. They tied the knot in 1974 and were married for 43 years. Unfortunately, Toni fell ill in November 2017 and passed away after Gerry took her to the hospital, but she never returned home.
During their marriage, Gerry and Toni had two daughters named Angie and Jenny. They also became loving grandparents to granddaughters Charlee and Payton.
After six years of grieving and with the support of his family, Gerry decided to put himself out there and find love again on The Golden Bachelor, as stated in his ABC biography.
Gerry has spoken fondly of his late wife, Toni, in various interviews. He revealed that he keeps a picture of her in his walk-in closet and often talks to her, seeking her opinion on his choices. He believes that she would be happy for him and approves of his journey on the show. Gerry expressed his strong positive feelings about finding love again and his confidence in building a lasting connection with someone special.
In a teaser clip that aired in August 2023, Gerry became emotional while discussing Toni’s passing and how he found the strength to move forward. He shared that they had a fulfilling life together filled with love and activity. After her sudden illness and passing, Gerry questioned why he was standing alone when he looked at the lake outside their house, which had been Toni’s dream.
Following Toni’s death, Gerry did enter the dating scene. He dated a woman named Carolyn for nearly three years before appearing on reality TV. They met while working together and reconnected after Gerry’s move. However, their relationship faced challenges, including Gerry’s controlling tendencies and disagreements over financial matters. They eventually ended their relationship, with Gerry asking Carolyn to move out of his lake house by a certain date.
While Carolyn has made claims about their relationship, Gerry has not directly addressed them. He has focused on the positive aspects of his life, including his love for Theresa, his partner on The Golden Bachelor. Gerry proposed to Theresa during the show’s finale, and they wasted no time in setting a wedding date for January 4, 2024, after making their relationship public. Gerry remains focused on moving forward and embracing the happiness he has found in his current relationship.
