Graveside Services: Thursday, September 3, 2020, 10:00 a.m., Glenwood Cemetery, Glenwood, Iowa. Pastor Luke Kuenzli officiating. Please meet at Peterson Mortuary at 9:30 a.m. and remain in your vehicle for the procession to the cemetery.
Terry Dee Ross, 80 of Glenwood, Iowa passed away August 29, 2020 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was born on August 30, 1939 in Glenwood, Iowa to Lavonne (Worstall) and George Wm. Ross.
Terry graduated from Glenwood High School in 1958 where he was an outstanding track athlete. In 1958 he won the State Class A 100-yard dash and was a member of the Relay Team that won the Class A State Championship. He was a winner in the 100-yard dash at the state A.A.U. meet in Ames, Iowa and invited to the A.A.U. meet in Nebraska.
Terry’s great passion was horticulture. He was self taught and could tell you the Latin names of trees, shrubs and plants. He used his knowledge by volunteering for the Mills County Extension identifying tree and shrub problems. He was a charter member of the Mills County Master Gardeners, gave talks at various clubs and served on the Glenwood Park Board. He also had a landscaping design business for several years.
He loved the water. For many years he was a Glenwood Red Cross Safety Instructor and officiated at local and regional swim meets.
In 2017 Terry received his fifty-year membership certificate from the Masonic Lodge of Iowa. Serving as Master of the Glenwood Lodge he was instrumental in the building of the new lodge (now the Senior Center). A 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and several years a Shriner.
Terry served his country as a member of the Iowa National Guard for eight years.
He was baptized and confirmed at the First Congregational Church in Glenwood. Currently a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Mineola.
Terry retired from Western Electric in Omaha after thirty years. In retirement he worked at Sherbondy’s Garden Center in Council Bluffs. There he enjoyed answering questions and helping customers.
Terry had many interests besides horticulture. Foremost were his grandsons Kyle and Kris. He collected rocks and arrowheads and was a Nebraska football fan. He enjoyed traveling to various botanical gardens in Europe, the states and the Caribbean.
The Heritage at Fox Run, assisted living was Terry’s home for the past two years. He became friends with the residents and the wonderful caring staff.
Terry was married to Jane Edwards who passed away in 1992. Terry had two daughters with Jane, Tamara and Kimberly. He married Gloria Plumer in 1997.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jane, his daughter Tamara and son-in-law Jim Keightley. He is survived by his wife Gloria, daughter Kimberly (Kevin) Taylor; grandsons: Kyle (Jenifer) Taylor and Kris Taylor; great-grandson Jack Taylor; stepchildren: Lisa (Randall) Tallman, Michael (Patrick) Plumer and Marcie (Butch) Fosdick; step-grandchildren: Andrew Tallman, Dylan Fosdick, Grant Fosdick, Allison Fosdick and Lenya Plumer.
Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church, 605 Main St., Mineola, Iowa 51554 or family preference.
11 Condolences
I wish I had the perfect words. I’m so very sorry for your loss. I will remember Terry fondly. He knew everything there was to know about gardening & I enjoyed hearing him talk about it! Much love to all of you. GJ
A great person and good friend.
What a beautiful obituary, you perfectly captured his essence. He will be missed by so many. Prayers to all of you!
So very sorry for the loss of Terry. The entire family is in our prayers. We are so sorry to miss the graveside service, we are out of town, but please know you are all in our prayers .
Sending our prayers and sympathy to Gloria and family. It is hard to say farewell to our loved ones.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your entire family is in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Terry originally through his wife Jane who I worked with at GRC for years. Then when I joined the Master Gardeners I had the wonderful opportunity to learn from Terry. He was always so helpful and fun to be around . He will be missed.
Gloria and family I am saddened to hear of Terry’s passing. He was a wonderful mentor to me as a Mills County Master Gardener as I gained much valuable information from Terry and will hold that forever in my heart. Terry was a kind soul and I could not ask for a better Master Gardener friend than Terry. May you find peace in knowing that Terry is in a much better place now.
Annette and Tim O’Brien
You are in my thoughts and prayers Gloria. So very sorry fir your loss.
Terry was one of many father figures to me in my early years. When we moved to Fourth Street and became neighbors, I was 3 and Kim and I became fast friends. Terry was a man of few words, but his laugh was contagious. I never heard him raise his voice even though Kim and I could be fairly naughty. When they moved North of town, he took much pride in landscaping the new property. I loved spending time at their home with the horses and dogs. He entertained the girls’ love of swimming, horses, dogs and even Tami’s snakes. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to know Terry and have so many fond memories of him. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending my love and prayers to all.
Terry was a good friend, good times in track in 1958, we set some records. So sorry for your loss.
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