Terry G. Tegtmeier, 83, of Seneca, KS passed away at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital on Thursday, February 3, 2022.  He was born on November 3, 1938 in Pawnee City, Nebraska, and was the only child of Henry Jr. (Hank) and Vada (Butler) Tegtmeier.

Terry began his first year of school in Ida Grove, Iowa, and then the family moved back to Kansas where he attended the country school, Union School #8, through the fifth grade, continued sixth through eighth grade in DuBois, Nebraska, and graduated from Bern High School in 1956.  

On January 25, 1959 he married Dana Strahm at Friedens United Church of Christ in rural Bern, Kansas.  They were blessed with four children: Clint, Sandra, Brenda, and Jill.

Terry was a lifelong farmer and rancher raising cattle, hogs and row crops on the same family farm where he grew up, on the Kansas/Nebraska border.  He began his cattle venture with his father, raising registered Angus cattle under the name Angus Acres, eventually continuing with his own cattle/farming operation throughout his adult life as Flying T Ranch.

 In his spare time, he enjoyed racing cars in the midget and stock car circuits, as well as growing his interest in aviation, particularly WW2-era aircraft, having ultimately received his FAA-certified pilot’s license at the age of 25.  Terry had a great love for flying his PA-18 Piper Super Cub and traveling to air shows, such as the Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin, which he frequented throughout his whole life. 

For those familiar with Terry, they would immediately recognize him as an outdoorsman, big-game hunter, and conservationist at heart.  Not only did he enter into an Alaskan hunting-guide and outfitting partnership guiding clients in hunting and fishing expeditions for six years, but he also hunted big game in Africa, New Zealand, Canada and many areas of the United States.  In fact, he was quite proud of his trophy room.

Terry was also passionate about his home and his community, serving on the State Bank of Bern Board of Directors for 34 years.  He also served on the church council of Friedens United Church of Christ, where he was a lifelong member.

He was an avid reader of safari, hunting, and aviation publications with an extensive home library.  As a lover of animals and wildlife, a dog was never far from his side.  He will be dearly missed by his current dog, Zip.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Hank (May 20, 1980) and Vada (December 24, 2009), and wife Dana of 42 years (February 3, 2001).

He is survived by his son Clint (Mary) Tegtmeier, and daughters, Sandy (Mark) Farwell, Brenda (Bob) Macke, and Jill (Omid) Alhosseini.  He has nine grandchildren, Jessica (Tegtmeier) Stallbaumer, David Tegtmeier, Eric Farwell, Jenna (Farwell) Loveall, Kelsey (Farwell) Unruh, Brandon Macke, Jamison Macke, Arman Alhosseini, and Arian Alhosseini and sixteen great-grandchildren, and partner Marnie Wipperman.

Visitation is Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5-7 P.M. at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas.

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 10:00 A.M.  at Friedens United Church of Christ, rural Bern, Kansas with interment following at the church cemetery.  A final flyover in Terry’s Super Cub by Daren Ronnebaum will complete the interment.  A luncheon will follow immediately at the DuBois Community Building.

Memorials will be designated at a later date. To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .