Mr. Turner was one of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc's first employees in 1956 and then partnered him in building McDonald's.
McDonald's expanded internationally under Mr. Turner's leadership. It more than tripled its number of restaurants and entered dozens of new markets worldwide.
Mr. Turner became president and chief administrative officer in 1968 and CEO in 1974, a position he held until 1997.
He was chairman until 1990. He retired in 2004 and became honorary chairman. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He died of complications from pneumonia.
In 1961, Mr. Turner started McDonald's Hamburger University to train managers, employees and franchisees.
"Fred was a true pioneer and shaped the quick service restaurant industry. We will remember his leadership, passion and dedication to McDonald's, our customers and our people," said McDonald's Chairman Andy McKenna in the statement.
