Terry Strain

Terry Leo Strain (87) passed away on May 20, 2025. A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory (8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale Iowa) with a funeral service to follow at 2:30 p.m.

Terry Leo Strain passed away on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Terry was born on August 20th, 1937, to Leo and Florence (Bishop) Strain in Greenup, Illinois, the “best town in America” according to Terry. He graduated as a proud Pirate from Cumberland High School in 1955. He then attended Eastern Illinois University, where he earned his Bachelor of Education in 1960 and was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.

On August 20th, 1960, he married Mary Lou Rector, following a courtship that started with a first date of frog hunting and celebrated 59 years of marriage with Mary Lou before her passing. They raised two children: Jeff and Lori.

Terry’s life’s work started as a Physical Education teacher in Neoga, Illinois. In 1966, he switched careers and began working at Equitable of New York. With his determination to provide a better life for his family, he spent the next 25 years rising to the executive levels of the company. He won numerous awards such as District and Agency Manager of the year, the President’s Club, and the Excalibur Club. With Terry’s playful and humorous nature, he made friends wherever he went. He believed in community and dedicated his life to helping the local community in every town he lived. This included coaching numerous football and baseball teams, President of Borg Warner baseball, President of his local United Way chapter, board member of the Moorehead Country Club, President of the Casa De Paz retirement community and member of the Waukee City Council and much more.

Terry loved competition and the brotherhood of sports. He participated in baseball, basketball, and track in high school. His basketball team was the first and still the only team to reach the Sweet Sixteen tournament. He was also inducted to the Cumberland H.S. Basketball Hall of Fame. Years later, as a local legend, he would often be asked what his favorite memory was and would reply, “The pride that is associated with a goal, that still lives with me.”

Terry and Mary Lou loved to travel the world and visited places as far away as Switzerland, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, China, and France. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and celebrated his birthday and anniversary every year at Wrigley Field and attend many spring training games in Mesa. He was over the moon when the Cubbies won the World Series in 2016. While he enjoyed these things and more in life, he just wanted to be wherever Mary Lou was and was faithfully devoted to his “queen.” He loved his family and his wonderful friends from the many places he lived like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Arizona.

His deep devotion to Mary Lou, his family and friends taught us to be loyal and servant, find humor in any situation and not take life too seriously. His legacy is not measured in titles or accomplishments, but in the lives he touched and the memories he leaves behind. His gentle guidance and fun-loving nature will live in our hearts forever.

Terry is survived by: his children Jeff Strain of Waukee, IA and Lori Strain (Tami) of Clive, IA. Grandchildren Dana May (Kevin) of Decatur, Illinois, Heather Blutt (Peter) of Waukee, IA, Kayla Noble (Joshua) of Marshalltown, IA, Tyler Strain (Natalie) of Waukee, IA, Olivia Pattison of Houston, TX, William Pattison of Des Moines, IA and Samuel Pattison of Clive, IA., and 9 great grandchildren. Sister and Brother in laws, Donna Strain (Valrico, FL), James Meece (Decatur, IL), Doris McHugh (Coolidge, AZ), Donny and Sandy Rector (Decatur, IL), Linda and Bob Duffin (Hoopeston, IL).

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Strain, foster sister Dorothy VanDyke, sister and brother in laws, Virginia and Loren Stevens, Vela and Earl McBride, Maxine Meece, James and Carol Rector and nieces Tracy Strain and Bonnie Jean Smith.

The family would like to thank Terry’s fantastic caregiving team at Independence Village, who aided the family in loving and carrying for him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following: MS (Multiple Sclerosis) to honor his daughter in law, Tami Pattison, at 7118 Horton Ave, Urbandale, IA or click here to donate or Parkinson Disease-Iowa Chapter, which Terry battled, at 2951 86th St, Suite 125, Urbandale, IA 50322 or  click here to donate