Jerry was born on May 10, 1942 in Metropolis, Illinois, the son of Charles and Mary (Homberg) Turner. He soon moved to Evansville and graduated from North High School in the class of 1960. Jerry worked in the pest industry before opening Turoni's. He would get off work, go to the grocery store, buy ingredients and start making pizzas to sell after working a full day. “For years, the kitchen always smelled like a pizza!” explained Judie Turner, the wife of Jerry. He had a passion for his community and a passion for pizza and beer. 

As an icon on North Main, Turoni's Pizza was established in the heart of the town with one thing in mind; create the best atmosphere alongside the best pizza anyone had ever tasted. With success that followed the opening of Turoni’s Main, expanding the restaurant to a second location took place in 1990. Jerry and his wife Judie opened their second location on Evansville's east side on Weinbach Avenue in the historic ‘Forget-Me-Not-Inn.’ In 1996, Jerry and Judie decided to venture into the beer industry by creating a micro-brewery business as it was a natural additive to their business, "since beer and pizza go hand in hand". With the rapid success of the brewery, and the recognition of the ‘Readers Choice Platinum Award’ for the best pizza in Evansville, it was only fitting to expand once more into Newburgh. The opening of the third location has proven the continued success in the Pizza business for Turoni's.