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Terry Jon Wilbur died peacefully at his home in Fort Collins, Colo., on Jan. 30, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
He will be laid to rest on June 8, 2024, in Fairfield Cemetery, Albert City, after a memorial service at Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church. A small gathering will also be held on May 1, 2024 in Littleton, Colo., where Terry lived for 40 years. Nancy and Terry moved to Fort Collins, Colo. two and half years ago to live near their daughter Molly and family as Terry’s health declined.
Terry was born on Mother’s Day — May 11, 1947 — in Fort Dodge. He was raised in Albert City, a small Swedish farming community near Storm Lake. Terry was a first-generation graduate of Iowa State University. Terry was loyal to his alma mater his whole life. His experiences at ISU shaped who Terry became as a man. Terry worked in the Friley Hall cafeteria, dining hall and repair shop. He was also a head resident. He always followed ISU football and basketball. On their first date, Nancy knew she would have to take Terry seriously as a loyal, hard-working ISU graduate, as were both her grandparents and aunt and uncle. That worked out, and Nancy and Terry were married just short of 30 years.
With his B.S. in mathematics, Terry became a teacher and then banker, insurance agent and Realtor in Redfield. Terry taught junior high and high school math and science. He also coached football, basketball and track. In 1983 he moved to Littleton, Colo. There he completed his advanced CPCU Insurance Designation, later teaching courses for the association. He worked as a commercial insurance underwriter and trainer. As companies were bought and sold or shifted operations to and from Denver, he worked for Bankers Union Life, USF&G, Safeco, Allied, and for the last 15 years, Nationwide Insurance. He also worked for two independent companies — J.R. Misken, Inc. and Applied Risk Solutions.
Terry wanted customers to secure the insurance coverage they needed and to be able to use it well. Terry was a consummate learner, reader and ethical person. He always seemed to know just the right decision to make. He was always any boss’s right-hand man, who had every detail correct.
Terry is survived by his first wife, Mary Kathryn McKey Morris; and his second wife, Nancy L. Shanklin Wilbur; and three daughters: Jennifer Powers, Megan Taunton and Molly Elder and their husbands, Michael, James and Chad. He has eight grandchildren: Katrina, Christian, Eden, Chloey; Keelie and Christopher; Emden and Avery; and five great-grandsons: Nolan, King, Atlas, Artimis and James. He is also survived by his three brothers: Michael, Dennis and Tom Wilbur; and two sisters, Peg Hannam and Margo Forbes.
He was preceded in death by his parents Vivian and Alva Wilbur.
Terry dearly loved his family and was happiest when he could be with them.
Terry enjoyed playing and watching golf on TV. As a retirement gift, his daughters gave him tickets to the whole week of the PGA Senior Open at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. He so enjoyed going to this tournament. He also loved the week of Texas golf outings organized by his nephew for the men in his family.
Terry enjoyed vacations with Nancy. He loved their trips to national parks and Mali (West Africa), Hawaii, Alaska and a final trip to Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.
Terry loved music and dancing having grown up on WLS Radio from Chicago and his dad’s record collection. Nancy and Terry belonged to the Carousel Dance Club for over 30 years. In his later years, Terry was fascinated by nature shows on PBS, mysteries and action movies, and old Western TV series, especially “The Rifleman,” because of its clear moral teachings from father and son.
Terry continued to follow Iowa State, Broncos, Packers, Steelers, and Chiefs football and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. With ISU’s Brock Purdy becoming a San Francisco 49er, he was also following them. Like his mom, Terry loved bird watching, especially hawks and eagles. He always perked up when he could be with or talk to his grandchildren or close friends.
As a family, we are very appreciative of the help Terry received from his caregivers at Home Instead, physical therapists, trainers and dining room staff at Mackenzie Place, and nurses from Alliant Hospice.
Donations may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Parkinson’s Foundation, Lewy Body Dementia Association or Habitat for Humanity. Please visit Terry’s tribute page at goesfuneralcare.com to share condolences with his family.
