Terry Leslie Witt

Terry Leslie Witt was born on July 13, 1942 at the Lutheran Hospital in Omaha, NE to Garnet Witt (Paulsen) and Leslie Witt. He was the second of four children, all boys. He was baptized on February 7, 1943 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. He was a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. He attended Elkhorn High School but left home at age 16 to work for the Nebraska Department of Roads doing roadside maintenance. It was while doing this job that he severely injured his foot while cutting grass, an injury that would continue to plague him in later years. He then worked for Bruhn’s in Iowa in the meatpacking industry, then in St Louis, MO and TX. In 1964 while working in Texas at a meat cutting plant he received his draft notice. He shipped out to basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and after graduation went to advanced training as a forward fire control radio man at Ft. Ord, CA. On leave at Christmas, and against Army wishes, he was married to Lorna Jean Custard on December 27, 1964 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, NE. The newlyweds moved to Hawaii after Terry was assigned to the 25 th Infantry Division, 35 th Regiment (Cacti), 3 rd Brigade, 1 st Battalion in the reconnaissance section of the headquarters company. While stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Terry received his orders to deploy with the division to Vietnam. His division was the first infantry division to be totally airlifted to Vietnam. Terry landed under fire at Pleiku in December 1965. He saw extensive combat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. He returned from Vietnam in June 1966, a different person due to his combat service. Upon his discharge, Terry and Lorna moved back to Elkhorn where Terry worked for Custard Trucking as an over the road trucker, as a delivery truck driver for Old Home Bread, and then as a Zamboni operator at Moylan Ice Plex. Many a customer and skating competitor praised Terry for his methods of cleaning the ice and many wouldn’t compete or skate unless Terry had cleaned the ice. Other places he worked were KK Appliance and Elkhorn Public Schools. Although a man of few words, when Terry spoke people listened. He was a man of selfless service both to his nation and to his family. Terry was always there for his family and was a devoted family man. He enjoyed spending time with family grilling, attending kids sporting events, rafting on the Elkhorn River, going to auctions and sales, attending tractor club events, attending the State and County Fairs, and going on tractor rides, including a Guiness record breaking event for RFD TV which was a record for the most tractors being involved. He was a consummate self- taught fix-it man who could fix anything. Terry and Lorna celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary on December 27, 2014. To this union were born three children: Cheryl (Jim) Dillon, Jennifer (Matthew) Kelly, and Brian (Stephanie) Witt. Terry enjoyed his free time centered around family events, his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren. On his 50th wedding anniversary, Terry suffered a brain bleed that initially went untreated. Terry later underwent surgery to remove damaged tissue but as a result had vascular dementia. Terry overcame many other adverse health conditions to include kidney cancer and Celiac disease. In later years he suffered from Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinsonism eventually having to be placed in a memory care facility. Many of his health issues were due to exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam. He died on February 11, 2023 surrounded by his family. The family wishes to extend a special “Thank you!” to all of Terry’s amazing caregivers. He is survived by his wife Lorna; daughters: Cheryl (Jim) Dillon, Jennifer (Matthew) Kelly; son, Brian (Stephanie) Witt; brother, Jack Witt; favorite cousin, Denny (Marian) Witt; as well as 7 grandchildren,4 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Gary and Rick Witt. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

Terry Leslie Witt

July 13, 1942 - February 11, 2023