Terry E. Smith
- Obituary
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Terry E Smith, age 66, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on July 28th, 2020. Born in Freeport, Illinois on September 25, 1953, Terry was one of three children to Delmar and Nancy (Shoemaker) Smith, along with sister Jenny and brother Mark.
Terry was married twice – first to Diana (Pluym) Smith and until his passing, to Liz (Sullivan) Smith – and produced four children, all of with whom he established a deep and lasting bond until his final days.
Terry spent his professional career in sales, including Richardson Motors, Specialized Office Systems, and IPA.
In his personal life, he was a proud and dedicated supporter of his two favorite sports teams – the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bears – and he spent many hours shooting pool, maintaining a collection of knives and swords, and reading. Another major source of joy for Terry was playing guitar and listening to his near-endless supply of Bob Dylan records. Terry also enjoyed entertaining others with his ability to speak backwards.
As his close friends, family members, and even acquaintances could attest to, Terry remained a genuine and unique person until his end and was someone who found ways to embrace life each day.
Those left behind to cherish Terry’s memory include:
his wife,
Liz (Sullivan) Smith, of Dubuque, Iowa;
his children,
Molly Smith, Dubuque, Iowa,
Talli Smith, Des Moines, Iowa,
Jeromy Smith, Des Moines, Iowa,
and Adam (Sarah) Smith, Norwalk, Iowa;
his grandchildren,
Jack, Henry, Aiden, Greta, and Olivia;
his sister,
Jenny Hartlieb, Freeport, Illinois;
his brother,
Mark (Julene) Smith, North Prairie, Wisconsin;
his aunt and uncle,
Mary and Don (Buck) Croson, Racine, Wisconsin;
his brother-in-law,
Charlie V. Sullivan, Omaha, Nebraska;
along with his many close and long-time friends.
For the rest of our collective lives, when we look to the sky, may we be reminded of his spirit and the warmth and love Terry provided to all of us.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Wilson Hartlieb.
Terry’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Mercy One Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, for all of their professional and compassionate care.
Online condolences may be shared with Terry’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com.
To honor Terry’s life, a private family service is being held at a later date.
I worked with Terry at Walmart. He never failed to give me something to think about. Will miss his smile and laugh.
Unfortunately, I have just learned of Terry’s passing. Terry resided in an apartment below my daughter’s father, however the two of them had never met one another. One night my daughter’s father attempted to take my daughter’s life. My daughter ultimately was able to escape out of her father’s apartment after being physically assaulted multiple time times and having to fight her father in order to escape out the door. Despite not knowing his upstairs neighbors, Terry had heard my daughter screaming for help and he opened his apartment door to investigate. Terry seen my daughter running down the steps screaming for help with her father chasing behind her. Not knowing my daughter at all, Terry seen the look of terror in her eyes and the anger in her father’s face. Without thinking twice, Terry grabbed my daughter and pulled inside his own apartment, slammed the door shut and locked it, then called the police. He then got my phone number from my daughter and called me to tell me that he had my daughter, what was going on, and informed me the police were on their way. I often think about what might have happened that night, if Terry hadn’t opened his door and taken my daughter inside his apartment to safety. Terry was my daughter’s guardian angel that night, and he saved my daughter’s life. I owe my daughter’s life to Terry, and I will never forget what he did that night. Terry will always be a hero in the eyes of my daughter and myself. Thank you, Terry, for saving my daughter’s life. May you rest in peace.