Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu’s wife Gonca Kavaklıoğlu dies; Turkish officials and clubs offer condolences

Gonca Kavaklıoğlu, the wife of Turkish Deputy Minister of National Defence Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu, died after a prolonged illness. Her funeral is scheduled for 31 July 2026 in Bor, Niğde, and the death was met with widespread sorrow in the region.

Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu, a veteran civil servant and AK‑P politician who has served as a member of parliament and deputy defence minister, received condolences from various institutions. The MKE Ankaragücü sports club posted a formal message of sympathy, expressing grief and offering prayers for Gonca and support for Alpaslan’s family.

The loss has highlighted Kavaklıoğlu’s long public service career, which includes roles as district governor, deputy governor, and senior positions in the Prime Minister’s Security Directorate, as well as receiving a Japanese state decoration for his contributions to Turkey‑Japan relations.