John Terry Jr., 77, was born on November 28, 1944, and entered the
heavenly realm on August 12, 2022. John, known as Dad, Grandpa, Coach,
Mr. Terry, JT, was born in Goodland, Kansas, as the middle son of six
boys. He was raised by Henry and Mildred Wilkening, and a brother, Elmer
Wilkening, on a farm outside of Haigler, Nebraska, four miles into
Kansas, creating his loyalty to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
John grew up as a farm boy with deep faith, love of family, and
enjoyment of football. Life taught him the commitment of hard work, yet
it was his love of sports that led him into teaching. After completing
high school at Haigler, he attended Fort Hays State University, where he
played college football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Physical Education, he returned to his hometown. He spent two years
coaching, teaching, and completing his Master of Science Degree in
Mathematics, lending him to move forward in his career to Atwood, KS. It
was here John met the love of his life, Connie. They were married on
December 23, 1972, including, one daughter, Annette, whom he adopted in
1973. To this marriage was born four children: Brent, Justin, Jonna, and
Michael. He was proud of all his children, reminding each of them of
their accomplishments, teaching every one of them through his last
breath.
During his career Coach Terry was a teacher, football, basketball, and
track coach. He was the assistant boys’ basketball coach in 1971 when
they won the Men’s State Championship. An honor that was recently
celebrated and he took great pride in. He was the line coach for the
high school football team and head track coach for both men’s and
women’s teams. In 1978, Coach Terry had another advancement in his
career, which became the definition of who he was: Women’s Basketball
Head Coach. Although Coach Terry taught math, physical education, was
part of three consecutive State Football Coaching teams, numerous State
Track individual and team wins, and many honors as a coach, it was “his
girls” basketball that encouraged him to continue coaching and teaching
for over 47 years.
In 2014, Coach Terry hung up his whistle and passed the torch to the
next generation of educators. It was during this transition time that
John began his second 12 year long career of crop adjusting. A job he
took great pride in, working up until his final days of life.
Lest not forget the love of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Football,
volleyball, basketball, if it had Cornhusker in the name he was on
board. Traveling to Lincoln every home game weekend and some away games,
celebrating with family and friends, making new friends. He believed in
his “Go Big Red” every season (good or less than good) and became a
season ticket holder for football and volleyball, moving this legacy to
the next generation on his final day in this world.
John could be found with the ones he loved the most. Doing what he loved
the most: golfing, always open for a good wager; hunting dove,
pheasants, deer (with a great scouting team), or simply working with his
dogs; fishing with his children, his grandchildren, and then his
great-grandchildren; or watching his family in their own
accomplishments. He loved his faith, his home, his family, his friends,
his students, his teams, his life.
To quote his last words, “I’ve had a good life, I hate to cry, it is time to go.”
Coach Terry was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mildred and
Henry Wilkening; brother Elmer Wilkening; biological parents, John
Terry, Sr and Bernitta and brother Leland Terry.
He is survived at home
by his wife Connie Terry and great grandsons; daughter Annette Dunker
husband Kerry, their children, Sidney (Destanie), Ariel (Kody, children:
Azia and Brigham), Aubrey (Spencer, children: Ayden and Evryn); son
Brent Terry wife Jennifer Shane, their children Gerald and Kierra Terry,
granddaughters, Katie Terry (children: Carter, Rylan, Ni’lah, Luxianna)
and Lauren Terry; son Justin Terry wife Michelle, their children Peyton
(Paige), Paige (Devin), Paxton and Payvn; daughter Jonna Kay Terry; son
Michael Terry wife Sara, their children, Gwen, Allyson and Ava;
brothers, Cecil Terry, Bill Terry, Dean Terry and Duane Meiris; Beth
Guth, Mike and Karen Guth and children, and many students, friends and
colleagues.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August
18, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood. The Funeral Mass will
take place at 10 a.m. Friday, August 19, 2022, at the church, with
burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Atwood.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Coach Terry Scholarship Fund and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com