Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey with Father Dan Wittrock celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary of the Angels Cemetery, rural Humphrey. Visitation was on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. at the church. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until service time also at the church. In lieu of flowers, stones, statues, etc., memorials are suggested to the Humphrey Fire Department or the donor’s or family choice.

Terry was born April 23, 1958, in O’Neil, Nebraska, to Daniel & Alice (Hamilton) Helmer. He graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1977. Upon graduation, Terry jumped right into the workforce. He worked in many departments at Lindsay Manufacturing. During his time at the plant, Terry created a diverse social circle of friends. Through these different groups of friends and a meet up on main street of Newman Grove is where Terry met his wife Jeanette, and they became inseparable ever since. Terry & Jeanette (Wemhoff) united in marriage on November 17, 1979; and had three children: Juston, Jamie & Tara.

In 1985, they moved to Garner, Iowa, where Terry worked for his sister & brother-in-law at Garner Cheese Co. His love for cheese making grew & he continued in the cheese making business after Garner Cheese Co. closed, by relocating to Dodge, Neb., & finally managing Ethan Dairy in Ethan, S.D. He was known for making award winning cheese, with his specialty being his vegetable cheese.

Humphrey Auto Supply offered Terry a career change in 1993, and he took the job, as cars were his true passion. This company was later bought out by Arnold Motor Supply, where Terry has been the store manager ever since & was a Senior Partner for 16 years.

Being up at the lake with family and friends was where Terry found his true happiness. He loved camping, boating, listening to music, being outside, and staying busy. He had way too much fun with his hot rods, playing fast pitch softball with his buddies, Thursday night golf with his partner Dan, and telling stories with all of his friends.

He truly enjoyed watching his grandkids in all of their activities and spending time with loved ones. Terry also served on the Humphrey Fire Department for 20 years as his way of giving back to the community.

Terry was a human whirlwind, a social butterfly who lived life at double speed. To him, nobody was a stranger. He was perpetually in a hurry-not because he was late, but because he was eager to get to the next “good time.” Everything he did was in fourth gear. Terry moved with an infectious energy that made everyone feel like they were part of his inner circle. He didn’t just walk into a room; he accelerated into it ready to make any stranger his new friend with his wit & kindness.

He is survived by his wife Jeanette, children, Juston Helmer of Humphrey, (Paul) Jamie Sunderman of Humphrey, & (Joe) Tara Korus of Lindsay; grandchildren, Jaxx Sunderman, Sawyer Sunderman, Steele Sunderman, Leo Sunderman, Kemper Sunderman, Dominic Korus, Mika Korus, Kya Korus, & Dreya Korus; siblings, Randy (Sandy) Helmer of Crofton, Neb., Dan Helmer of Phoenix, Ariz., & (George) Cathie Welsh of Prescott, Ariz., along with many nieces & nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Daniel & Alice Helmer, brother Johnny Helmer, sister Diane Nelson, brother-in-law Earl Nelson, & sister-in-law Pam Helmer.