John Terry

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 1972 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 10:00 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

Services will be live streamed at https://fb.me/e/2LS0oSefD