James Terwey

James B. "J.T." Terwey, age 69 of Melrose, was called to Heaven quietly in his sleep Friday, April 1, 2016 with the comfort of his wife Joyce, at his side at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 5 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Melrose with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Melrose Veterans Honor Guard will pray at 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

James Boniface Terwey was born July 26, 1946 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Henry and Eleanore (Herkenhoff) Terwey. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 during the Vietnam War and he was medically discharged. J.T. and Joyce Klasen have been together since 1985 and were united in marriage on March 12, 2002. He worked as a Beekeeper in Wisconsin, Spaeth Distributing, and Kraft in Melrose. In 1978 he started his dream job with Starry Construction (now known as Central Specialties in Alexandria) as a truck driver. J.T. retired after the accident in September of 2014, and over the past year he recovered from the accident but continued to battle with ongoing medical and cancer issues that ended in heart failure. J.T. was well known for his great smile, genuine fun-loving character, playing pranks, jack of all trade skills, and his way of just helping out anyone anywhere. He was selfless, patient, loving, gentle, joyful, down-to-earth and deeply loved.

J.T. enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, camping, woodworking, 4-wheeling, splitting wood, and being a Mr. Fix It.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, lifetime member of Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and the American Legion Unit 101, and a 50 year member of the Catholic United Financial.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joyce Terwey of Melrose; brothers and sisters, Larry (Delores) Terwey of Sauk Centre, Donna (Vince) Haider of Elrosa, Phyllis (Jerry) Blenker of Melrose, LaVerne (Shirley) Terwey of Apple Valley, Art (Rita) Terwey of Melrose, and MaryAnn (Ray) Fuchs of Albany; 41 nieces and nephews; 49 great-nieces and nephews; and mother-in-law, Alice Klasen of Melrose.

J.T. was preceded in death by his parents, Henry (1974) and Eleanore (1976) Terwey; brother and sister-in-law, Delbert "Del" (2002) and Donna (2014) Terwey; multiple infant nieces and nephews; and father-in-law, Richard Klasen (2011).

In respect for J.T., dress comfortably in your blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Fuchs, Jason Terwey, Ron Blenker, Keith Haider, Andy Zierden, and Luke Blonigen. Cross bearer will be Justin Funk and scripture bearer will be Brandon Funk. Pall bearers will be Brandon Funk, Justin Funk, Krista Klasen, Kurt Klasen, Denise Langer-Herman, Brian Fuchs, and Andy Zierden. Gift bearers will be Erika Westermeyer, Nick LeClaire, Jamie Klasen, and Ryan Stroeing. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mary Ann Fuchs, Jean Hemker, and Sheila Hellermann. Mass servers will be Ron Butkowski and Wif Finken. Readers will be Denise Langer-Herman and Shanna Raash. Music will be by Jeanne Bonfig and Jill Klasen. Eulogy will be read by Sheila Hellermann. Honorary bearers will be his nieces and nephews. Taps at the cemetery will be by Shannon LeClaire and Mathew Doll.