July 21, 1933 - February 16, 2018
Franklin Eugene "Frank" Terhune died unexpectedly on February 16, 2018 near his fishing pond on his property in Savannah, Missouri.
Frank was born on July 21, 1933 to George and Berenice (Bullock) Terhune in Forest City, Missouri. On April 14, 1956, Frank married his sweetheart, Teresa Kathleen "Kay" Fitzmaurice who preceded him in death on August 4, 2013 after 57 years of marriage.
Frank is survived by his children: Jan Terhune, Tampa, FL; Shane Terhune and wife, Shelley, Savannah; Michelle Terhune, Kirksville, MO; Regina Terhune Knott and husband, Rodney, Coffey, MO; Traci Terhune Stiles and husband, Michael, Columbia, MO; and, Josh Terhune and wife, Molly, Kansas City, MO. Frank is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Shauna Clark, Donalsonville, GA; Erin Clark Gajdusek and husband, Garrett, Tampa, FL; Chelsea Terhune and Mason Becker, Savannah; Katie Terhune Hughes and husband, Justin, Savannah; Jessica Knott Sullenger and husband, Carl, Cameron, MO; Danan and Paige Knott, Coffey, MO; Gillian Stiles and Elisabeth Stiles, Columbia, MO; Ellie Terhune and Henry Terhune, Kansas City, MO; Josh Hollingsworth and Ben Hollingsworth, and Rick, Mike and Chas Klosicki. Frank is also survived by 13 great grandchildren, Cleighton Decker, Madison Decker, Logan Collins and Lawson Englehart, Kellen Gajdusek, Mason McKinney and Caelan McKinney, Rowen Becker and Rebel Becker, Levi Hughes, Billy Wyatt and Sawyer Sullenger, and Ryker Knott. Frank is also survived by brother, Russell Terhune of Belton, MO; sister, Phyllis Reece of St. Joseph; sister, Alice Nielson of Maryville; brother, Gerald (Mary) Terhune, Savannah; sister-in-laws Dorothy Terhune, Lincoln, NE and Pat Fitzmaurice, St. Joseph; brother-in-law Terry Fitzmaurice, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
Frank was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Kellen Clark and Brooke McKinney; brother, Dean Terhune, sister-in-law Nancy Terhune and brother-in-law, Glenn Reece.
Following graduation from Forest City High School in 1951, Frank attended college at Northwest Missouri State University and majored in Industrial Arts. In July, 1953, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Fort Riley, KS then was stationed in Texas where he broke his ankle which kept him from being shipped to Korea. He was then stationed near Paris, France and was able to travel around the continent. He received an Honorable Discharge in June, 1955. Frank worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in St. Joseph for nearly 38 years before taking an early retirement so he could have more time to putter in his shop, hoist a beverage on Friday nights with his friends, and lovingly restore a Ford Model A he named "Lil Katie." He liked to say that he'd been retired longer than he worked for the phone company. He was a member of the Communication Workers of America and the Telephone Pioneers. Frank was an avid gardener who loved to share the abundance with family, friends and strangers. He was known for his sense of humor, his do-it-yourself attitude, his voracious appetite and his sweet tooth. Next to Kay and his family, Frank's greatest love was fishing and hunting. He spent every minute he could on his boat or in his deer stand. His Easter-day fish fries were a tradition as was his deer sausage which he shared at every family function. He taught all of his kids and grandkids how to fish and had started on the great grandkids.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 21 at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home in Savannah. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m., February 22 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with burial following at Savannah Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Andrew County Senior Center or Wounded Warriors.