Earl Terpstra was born May 13, 1933
Earl was born on a farm near Moline Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in Agricultural Engineering. Later graduate work enabled him to become a Registered Civil Engineer.
He served in the in Europe with Army Special Troops He is a life member of the VFW. Following military service he went to work for the Soil Conservation Service. His first job with SCS was as an engineer on the Prairie Creek Watershed in Washington. Indiana. While there he met his future wife Judy. They married in 1959.
Earl held positions with SCS in Renseler where their son was born and Indianapolis, Indiana. Later assignments were in Michigan, Minnesota and last in Washington, D.C.
Earls 20 years in the Washington Office included being a Congressional Fellow on the staff of a member of Congress and working in the Executive Office of the President. His last few years were spent as Program Leader for the western states.
Following retirement Earl and Judy bought a small farm in Southern Indiana and Earl started helping larger farmers driving trucks and tractors.
He also collected farm tractors, farm toys and farm memorabilia. In 2013 he was inducted into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame.
Earl is survived by his wife Judy and son Earl Jr. (Terp) and daughter-in-law Alicia, sister Diane Koster, brother Duane (JoAnne) Terpstra, stepbrother
Bob (Barbara) Deal and stepsister Vicki (Leo) Pagett.
The family welcomes online condolences and fond memories to be left at www.gillsince1872.com.Fredrick and Son-Gill Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with Mr. Terpstra’s arrangements. Services will be private with burial in Arlington Cemetery .
