THE GOLDEN Bachelor star Gerry Turner was once forced to choose between two women years before joining the show, his father has exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
Gerry, 72, is on The Golden Bachelor to find love again after the tragic death of his wife, Toni, in 2017.
His father, Everett Turner, exclusively told The U.S. Sun that his son is no stranger to choosing between more than one woman.
Everett, 91, claimed to The U.S. Sun: “He had two girlfriends in high school, Toni and another young girl.
“His mother told him, ‘You can’t do that son. You got to pick out one or the other.’ He picked Toni.”
When Toni unexpectedly died in 2017, Gerry reconnected with the woman he turned down.
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Everett claimed: “After Toni passed away, he dated this girl. They would go to lunch. She lives in another state. It was nothing serious. He just dated her.”
Gerry’s proud father continued of his son joining the show: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. He was very successful in his career. Might as well do something like this. We are supportive of the show. I support him.
“I’m not nervous about my son at all. I know he’ll do a good job no matter what he does. He hasn’t failed at anything.”
When asked what kind of woman he would like to see for his son, he said: “A partner so to speak. She has to be a good cook. He makes the best prime rib!”
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Everett even gave his son advice, as he told him: “Have fun and be careful!”
BACHELOR
Gerry dated multiple women before joining the show, but was unable to find love again.
Gerry’s good friend Heather Lanning, who works at The Shady Nook next to his Indiana lakehouse, previously told The U.S. Sun: “He dated a couple of women. They weren’t long-term, but they weren't short-term either.
“He was with a couple of women for a decent amount of time, but it just didn’t work out.”
As for why the relationships failed, Heather explained: “I think it goes back to whether you’re there for the right reason or not.”
Heather insisted Gerry “wasn’t on the dating apps,” but was “introduced by other people” or met the women while at The Shady Nook.
FAMILY FIRST
Everett previously told The U.S. Sun that his son plans to stay close to his beloved family.
He said: “He likes Indiana. The house on the lake he bought for his two kids, so it’s probably where he wants to say.”
Gerry’s stepmom, Norma, added: “I don’t think he would move.”
Gerry purchased his lake home in June 2020 for $375,000.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom house, which is valued at $637,700, overlooks Big Long Lake.
Gerry’s father, stepmother Norma and daughter Jennifer live close by, while his other child, Angela, resides in Illinois.
But Heather believes that for the right woman, he would make the move.
She told The U.S. Sun: “I think he would move or have the woman move here. That’s all going to be based upon however that goes down.
"I don’t think he would be limited to moving.”
SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE
Gerry's wife Toni, with whom he shares two daughters, died in 2017.
The retired restaurateur explained the lakehouse was their dream.
He said in a preview clip: "We had 43 wonderful years together. We had two daughters, and I now have two granddaughters.
"We had a typical but beautiful life full of love, full of activity and as years went on, I retired. We had a plan and we had a plan of what our dream house was going to be.
"So when Toni retired at the end of May in 2017, we bought that dream house. Closed on it on June 6. From June 6 on, it didn't go according to plan at all. You know, she became ill and her situation got worse over a couple of weeks."
He then broke down in tears as he said: "So, we went to the emergency room and she had a bacterial infection that infected her kidneys and infected her liver. So I took my wife to the emergency room on July 7 and she passed away on July 15.
"Every time I look at that lake, I go, 'This is her dream. This is what she deserves. Why am I standing here alone?' It will be six years since she passed away. No one is ever going to replace Toni."
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The season premiere of The Golden Bachelor kicked off on September 28.
The Golden Bachelor airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
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