Terpstra, William D. 1923-2005

TERPSTRA, MCCONEGHEY, WAHLERT

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 6/28/2005 at 22:25:35

EXIRA — William Dow Terpstra, 82, of Exira, formerly of Reasnor, died Thursday, May 5, 2005, at the Exira Care Center in Exira.

Funeral services were held today at the Exira Christian Church with the Rev. Robert Hennick officiating. Burial was at the Exira Cemetery. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira handled arrangements.

The son of Leslie Dow and Cecile (McConeghey) Terpstra, he was born Feb. 28, 1923, at his parents' home east of Reasnor. He attended rural schools in Jasper County, then graduated from Newton Senior High School with the class of 1940. He attended Iowa State University for a short time, then farmed for four years before returning to Iowa State University.

On May 7, 1950, he married Clarissa Wahlert at the Exira Christian Church in Exira. They lived in several locations in Iowa. He was employed at an alfalfa dehydration plant for several years and was a lineman for Iowa Power Company near Grinnell. Later he was a County Farm Bureau Field man. In 1965, they moved to York, Neb., where he worked for Farmland Industries until he was transferred to Ogallala, Neb., in 1979. In 1981, they moved to Belgrade, Mont., where he was employed at several local co-ops until he retired in 1989. He was employed part-time and then moved to Exira in 1997.

During retirement Mr. Terpstra enjoyed restoring antique tractors and going to tractor shows. He was a member of the Exira Christian Church, Exira Lions Club and served as the district governor. He enjoyed playing bridge, was an avid reader, was always interested in helping young people and had been a high school Sunday school teacher. He also helped to maintain the Exira Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife; children, Tom (Ilene) Terpstra of Chicago, Ill., Dan (Patsy) Terpstra, Patty (Don) Jordan, Mike Terpstra and Sue (Troy) Henry, all of Lincoln, Neb.; a brother, Darrel (Carolyn) Terpstra of Altoona; two brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Avery Wilson of Newton, Kay (Sam) Stehle of Longmont, Colo., and Herbert Wahlert, Jr. of Exira; and other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his parents-in-law, Herbert Sr. and Claudine Wahlert; and a sister, Dolores Wilson.

Newton Daily News, Monday, May 09, 2005