On February 22, 2022, Terry Wayne Nuss passed into the arms of Jesus at the age of 71 after a tough but short battle with cancer.
Terry was born in Sibley, Iowa, on April 14, 1950, to Lorraine Faye Nuss and the late Wilbur Keith Nuss. His family relocated to Washington State in the late 50s, where Terry was raised. At the age of 18, Terry enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served 22 years.
During the early years of his career, he fought in the Vietnam War, traveled around the world 3 times, and had his 2 oldest children.
He coached them in baseball, introduced them to his love of golf, and taught them the value of doing it yourself and being self-sufficient. Their fondest memories were of him taking them saltwater fishing.
In the last part of his career, he married the love of his life, Helen, and had his 3 younger children.
He then moved to Montana with his wife and 3 younger children in the 1990s. As a family, they enjoyed many camping trips to secluded areas where they would fish, hike, and dance to Shania Twain on rock mountains. Terry enjoyed canoeing, especially when his 130-pound Akita thought he needed to save him and tried climbing in with him in the middle of the lake.
He was present for his kids' sporting and musical events, never missing them for anything.
He showed all of his children a love of music, especially (in his opinion, at least, which is, of course, always right), the best music ever from the 50s and 60s. The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, and his favorite, Gene Pitney, all make the top of this list. He enjoyed playing music that his bride would love, like Air Supply and anything from the 1970s. "Two Less Lonely People in the World" and "Even The Nights Are Better" were his anthems for dating his wife and even used the former in his dedication to his bride when they married.
He and Helen retired to Longview, Washington. There, he began working at the golf course not only playing golf but also building golf clubs. He truly enjoyed making golf clubs as a profession and as a hobby. He entertained himself by building model ships, spending hours getting every piece right. They bought a boat to cruise the Columbia River, where they enjoyed their time together, the views, and trying to catch some dinner. He loved taking his grandchildren fishing and teaching them the tricks of the trade.
Terry loved to work with his hands in making things for his children and loved to spoil his grandchildren to no end. But, overall, what kept him going was his love for his wife.
Terry served as a pastor for many years. His love for Jesus was what drove his family, and he instilled that in his children and his wife. He taught us all to keep Jesus at the center, and the rest will fall into place.
Terry is survived by his wife of over 35 years, Helen Nuss of Longview, WA; his children, Kim-Jon (Christina) Nuss, Scott (Holly) Nuss, Felicia (Timothy) Fiedler, Zachary (Megan) Nuss, and Joshua (Austin) Nuss-Lane; mother, Lorraine Nuss of Burien, WA; Grandchildren Mikayla, Aleq, Benjamin, Sarah, Jonathan, Artemus, Ezeriah, Mattix, Elliana, and Emerson; brothers Lonnie (Sharon) Nuss and Rodney (Barbara) Nuss; as well as nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for March 18, 2022 at 1 PM at Lighthouse Christian Center in Puyallup, WA. A private internment will follow at a later date in Tahoma National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Wounded Warrior Project in Terry's name.
Friday, March 18, 2022
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Pacific time)
Lighthouse Christian Center
Visits: 2
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