Get to know Iowan Gerry Turner, the franchise's first 'The Golden Bachelor'

The "Bachelor" franchise's first leading man in the golden years is an Iowan.

"The Golden Bachelor" Gerry Turner and 22 senior women made their mark with one hour of must-see TV on Thursday night. The pure programming provided proof of life for the franchise amid falling ratings in recent years.

Gerry Turner and his wife, Toni, spent most of their marriage in Iowa

The 72-year-old grandpa from Iowa now lives on a lake in Indiana. He and his wife of 43 years, Toni, spent a significant portion of their marriage in the Quad Cities before she died in 2017 due to a sudden illness.

"I'm not gonna lie, it was a long, slow process to get to the point where I could talk about (Toni) without, becoming completely emotional," Turner, who believes his late wife would bless his decision to take on "The Golden Bachelor," told USA TODAY.

"I had some concerns at first that maybe if she were here looking over my shoulder, that she wouldn't think positively about it," says Turner. "But I was reminded of all the conversations that we had, that when one of us passed we wanted and hoped the other one, the survivor, would go through the process of grieving, but still find happiness in life."

Now, the widower is looking for a second love of his life with around two dozen women.

Series premiere: Iowan Gerry Turner meets 22 possible matches

It's the second time the ABC dating series and its spinoffs have churned out an Iowan as a lead. Arlington farmer Chris Soules, who later starred on "Dancing with the Stars" and fueled controversy, helmed the classic version's 19th season.

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner just created an Instagram account and his followers are over 40 (kind of)

Turner, who is a grandpa to two, now has his own Instagram account @goldengerryturner. His feed features a boating picture, a tribute to Hawkeye football game day against Western Michigan on Sept. 16 and a photo with his family. He already boasts around 40,000 followers with just seven posts. His bio is, “Hello, I’m Gerry” with a smile emoji.

Sorry, Cyclones: Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner is an Iowa Hawkeye football fan!

According to a New York Times profile, Turner is a University of Iowa alumni and he spends his retirement “rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes.” he follows 16 accounts so far on his Instagram account including @hawkeyefootball.

Gerry Turner loves playing pickleball. Now, he’s looking for his partner.

Will somebody please page Smash Park? The West Des Moines-based chain of entertainment centers, which is widely known for its pickleball, needs to open a location in Indiana. The leading man is a big pickleball fan and his lucky final rose will likely find time to unwind with the loud smacks of a paddle.

How do you say 'Golden Bachelor' Gerry Turner's name? Not as it looks.

Turner says he uses a Gaelic pronunciation of Gerry (that sounds like Gary). But alternate pronunciation is not a dealbreaker, especially after his Catholic school upbringing.

"When I was in the third grade the nuns would tell me my name was Jerry," says Turner. "When I said it differently, like Gary, they'd rap my knuckles. I learned to not be sensitive about how my name was pronounced ever since."

How to watch 'Golden Bachelor' with Gerry Turner

The series premiered on Sept. 28 and will air weekly at 7 p.m. central Thursdays on ABC (WOI, Local 5 in central Iowa). Episodes are also available streaming the next day on Hulu.

Who are the women on 'Golden Bachelor'?

Turner will be accompanied by the show’s host, Jesse, Palmer as he searches for the best partner to share his sunset years.

Here are the women vying for Turner’s heart.

• Anna, 61, a retired nutritionist from Summit, N.J.

• April, 65, a therapist from Port St. Lucie, Fla.

• Christina, 73, a retired purchasing manager from Sierra Madre, Calif.

• Edith, 60, a retired realtor from Downey, Calif.

• Ellen, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Fla.

• Faith, 60, a high school teacher from Benton City, Wash.

• Jeanie, 65, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tenn.

• Joan, 60, a private school administrator from Rockland, Md.

• Kathy, 70, a retired educational consultant from Austin, Texas

• Leslie, 64, a fitness instructor from Minneapolis, Minn.

• Maria, 60, a health and wellness director from Teaneck, N.J.

• Marina, 60, an educator from Los Angeles, Calif.

• Nancy, 60, a retired interior designer from Alexandria, Va.

• Natascha, 60, a pro-aging coach and midlife speaker from New York City, N.Y.

• Pamela, 75, a retired salon owner from Aurora, Ill.

• Patty, 70, a retired real estate professional from Durham, N.C.

• Peggy, 69, a dental hygienist from East Haven, Conn.

• Renee, 67, a former Chicago Honey Bear Cheerleader from Middleton, Wis.

• Sandra, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Ga.

• Susan, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Penn.

• Sylvia, 64, a public affairs consultant from Los Angeles, Calif.

• Theresa, 69, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, N.J.

Editor's note: This article's headline has been updated to reflect that Gerry Taylor spent most of his life in Iowa, but was born in another state.

USA TODAY's Bryan Alexander and Amaris Encinas contributed to this report

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Get to know ABC’s first ‘Golden Bachelor’ and Iowan Gerry Turner