Visitation for 69 year old Terry Neary will be held at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa on Thursday, September 12 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. The funeral service will be held Friday, September 13 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Terry Annette Neary, daughter of Merlin and Florence (Porter) Koester, was born October 15, 1954 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She received her education in Fort Dodge, graduating in 1972. Following high school, Terry attended Iowa Central Community College for two years and then went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Iowa, majoring in Elementary Education. Terry later earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.
On May 29, 1976 Terry was united in marriage to Joseph Neary at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. They were blessed with two daughters, Laura and Amy.
Terry and Joe made their home in Emmetsburg where they raised their daughters. Terry began her teaching career in the Emmetsburg Community School system where she was employed from 1976 until 1978. She then accepted a position at Iowa Lakes Community College where she worked for 27 years.
Terry was a faithful and devoted member of Bethany Lutheran Church helping in any capacity in which she was needed. She was a loyal member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association and the I-Club.
Terry was a Hawkeye enthusiast, attending 49 Iowa Hawkeye football openers in a row with Joe. Terry’s love of horticulture and the outdoors was evident around her entire home. Her flower gardens were absolutely gorgeous and she received the Yard of the Month award countless times from the Palo Alto County Garden Club. She was also very talented at decorating her home and remodeling.
Terry looked forward to family vacations and especially enjoyed trips to Estes Park, Cheyenne, Wyoming and the Tetons. Besides the mountains, Terry loved beach vacations and cruising the Caribbean with Joe.
Terry’s family was first and foremost in her life. Her daughters, their families and all of their accomplishments were truly a joy to Terry. She cherished every moment that she could spend with her daughters and granddaughters. She was their #1 Cheerleader in all they did!
Terry fought a fight against cancer with determination and hope, never giving up. She was willing to do trial treatments to not only benefit herself but to aid in the medical treatment of others.
Terry passed away Sunday, September 8, 2024 after spending a day with Joe, outside, doing what she loved to do….gardening and preparing her yard for fall. She was preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Florence Koester and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Patricia Neary.
She is survived by her husband, Joe, of Emmetsburg, Iowa; her daughters, Laura (Eric) Flattem of Chesterfield, Missouri and Amy (David) Olson of Madison, Wisconsin; five granddaughters, Marielle, Adelynn and Genevieve Flattem and Caroline and Jojo Olson; brothers, Rodney Koester of Mason City, Iowa and Brad Koester of Ankeny, Iowa; sisters, Sherrie Mandsager of Clive, Iowa and Colette Salmon of Fort Dodge, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
