Terry Wayne Nutter

CROSS PLAINS - Terry Wayne Nutter was born on May 30, 1936 in Perry County Ohio, and passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on Saturday, June 1, 2024. He was born to his parents, Betty Jane and Elisha J. Nutter, on Memorial Day which was celebrated on his birthday until the 1960s. He always looked forward to celebrating with a parade on his birthday.

On June 21, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Kay Johnson. On Feb.19, 1959, they gave birth to their first daughter, Ann Rhoda, and on May 30, 1960, they were blessed with a second daughter, Theresa Wendy. During the first five years of marriage Terry served in the U. S. Marine Corps as a radio technician in Cherry Point N.C. He was honorably discharged in April 1961 when he was discharged. After that they moved back to Princeton, Ill., where Terry became a car salesman. Terry and Kay divorced in November of 1966.

Terry then moved to Chicago, where he worked for a friend named Driscoll Drew, the best friend he could ever have. On March 27, 1968, Terry met the love of his life, Martha Kleiber, at the Zebra Lounge in Chicago. He felt like he knew her forever and their relationship transformed Terry from a lost soul to a Christian man. After dating for five years, they were married on Nov. 19, 1971. After five years of marriage God blessed them with their oldest daughter, Sarah LaVerne, and they changed their marriage into a family. Five years after that, on Aug. 24, 1981, they were blessed with a son, Raymond Elisha. Two years later another special gift arrived on May 23, 1983, and they named her Mary Mildred. From that time forward Terry spent his career being a rural route carrier in Lake Zurich, Ill.

Terry spent time finding his way to the Catholic faith through many priests. Father Richard Valker was the priest who helped him find himself and his way to the Catholic faith. He became totally immersed at St. Francis de Sales school and church. Here he taught Sunday School, was the athletic director, and was an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. When Terry and Marti moved to Rockton, Ill., they became parishioners of St. Peter Catholic Church, where Terry brought Communion to the homebound for many years. It was a calling, and he took it very seriously!

Terry is preceded in death by his wife, Martha; parents, Elisha and Betty; his brother, Larry; his nephew, Strawn Nutter; niece, Nancy Beth Simon; and his in-laws, Raymond and LaVerne Kleiber. He is survived by his oldest daughters from his first marriage, Ann and her children, Max and Erik. Theresa Wendy and her children, Gray, David and Ellie. He is also survived by his daughter, Sarah Lawn, and her husband, Chris, and their five children, Madelyn, Laura, Evan, Greta and Kiersten Lawn, his son, Raymond, and his three children, Gavin, Layla and Joslyn Nutter, and his youngest daughter, Mary Anderson, and her husband, Robert and their five children, Rosalie, Eloise, Beatrice, Michael and Joseph Anderson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may in Terry’s memory to St. Francis Xavier Endowment Fund.

Terry was blessed in being a compassionate minister under Father Sable, Monsignor Brady and Father Koutnik. “They not only taught me how to be a good Christian man but an extraordinary Catholic. They surrounded me with discipline and wisdom. What a life I have been given and I have been so blessed by so many people. I love you all friends and foes but most of all I love Jesus Christ.  Keep me in your prayers and I will pray for you forever. Amen!”

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Cross Plains

Funeral & Cremation Care

2421 Church St.

(608) 798-3141