Terry Ellen McNiel (1960-2021)

MCNEIL, ZEHR, ELLIS, MILLER, TERRY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/28/2021 at 21:47:18

Obituary for Terri Ellen McNiel
Terri Ellen McNiel, 60, of Papillion, Nebraska, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed peacefully, January 15, 2021, after a 5-year battle with breast cancer. A visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. Private family burial will take place at Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

She was born October 29, 1960, at Sartori Hospital, Cedar Falls, Iowa, firstborn of William and Judith (Terry) McNiel. Her pre-school years were in Harlan, Iowa, and Wayne, Nebraska. She finished her schooling at Jefferson High School. where she was a J-Hawk Mat Maid. She was married to John Thomas Zehr in August, 1987. They later divorced. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1989 with a BS in elementary education. She spent the next 25 years with Omaha Public Schools, teaching at Saratoga and Prairie Wind. She was devoted to teaching and loved her students. Teaching was her life. Terri enjoyed gardening and decorating her home. She never passed up a garage sale, thrift shop, or an interesting rock. She was supported and loved by longtime partner, Sherrard Wiese of Papillion, Nebraska.

She is survived by Parents, William and Judith; Sister, Kelly Ann (Heath Ayers); Nephew, William Ellis; Uncle, Robert (JoAnn) McNiel, all of Cedar Rapids; Uncle, Phil (Patty) Terry, Underwood, IA; Cousins, Molly (Michael), Stephanie (Chris), Jessica, Rachel (Chris), Joel; Partner, Sherrard Wiese and his family Tom (Marcy), Miranda, Caitlin, Michelle Bauer, Jennifer Margheim, and William Wiese; and her furry friend, Jack.

She was preceded by Grandparents, Harold and Laura May (Miller) Terry, Mickey and Nora (Snodgrass) McNiel; and Uncle, Harlyn A. Terry.

Terri loved life and teaching. She moved through life listening to her own drummer with her own song. In her memory, think kind thoughts, plant a flower, or rescue a lost animal.