ROCHESTER - Peter William Terpstra Sr., 83, of 1121 Wabash Ave., Rochester, died at 6:30 a.m. Dec. 9, 2008, in his son's residence.
He was born June 4, 1925, in Chicago, Ill., to Richard Dirk and Jessie Post Terpstra. On Sept. 12, 1946, in Kokomo, he married Marjorie L. Mikesell. On Oct. 10, 1994, in Rochester, he then married Jean Kinder Sheets, who died April 21, 2000.
Moving to the Rochester area in 1939, he was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, serving on the USS Ara in the South Pacific until February 1946. From 1952-56, he was co-owner of Fulton Lumber Co. Inc. In 1956, he purchased the Fulton County Lumber & Construction Co., Rochester, which he owned and operated until 1974. He was past president of Fulton County Young Republicans, the Lions Club and the Fulton County Historical Society. He was a former member of Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the John Birch Society. He was past chairman of the board, trustee and deacon of First Christian Church, Rochester. In later years he was involved with Friends of the Library, Habitat for Humanity, Fulton County Hospice Group and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Ann Terpstra, Wright City, Mo.; a son, Peter William (and spouse Connie) Terpstra II, Athens; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and five siblings: Dick Terpstra, Columbus, Ohio; Charlotte Terpstra Eakins Fowler, Flagler Beach, Fla.; Joy Terpstra (and spouse Dean T.) Rizor, El Cajon, Calif.; Eunice Terpstra (and spouse Marlin L.) Stockwell, Trinity, Fla.; and Walter S. Terpstra, Marysville, Ohio. He was preceded in death by a sister, a brother and a great-grandson.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester, with Sarah Purkey officiating and with military rites by members of LeRoy Shelton American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rochester. Burial will be in Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home.
