A voracious reader, master model builder and wise crack passed away not once, but twice, much to the surprise of his family and the Denver Hospice on Father’s Day. His name was Terry Truesdale, he was 65, and a Denver native. He will be remembered for his intelligence, his fondness of unorthodox cereal jingles, his expansive library, and his wit.
Terry was born Terry, not Terrance, on a warm summer day in July of 1954, during a family picnic. Thus produced Terry’s love of picnics the remainder of his life. He was a sick child, always having some form of illness, but that never stopped him from painting a house in tar because it looked cool, or using the wood from a new home build to build a clubhouse with his brother - if you couldn’t tell he was mischievous.
Throughout his life, Terry was an avid reader. Not science fiction, romance novels, or something sappy, but meaningful books about world leaders and history. He could tell you all about how an ancient civilization began, what their culture was like, and what their military strategy was. He built mini models of aircraft, tanks and ships. He was meticulous with attention to the details, everything would look exactly like the way it would have in real life. He spent hours gluing, sanding, filing, painting, sticking, and displaying his model creations.
Terry also loved a good joke, if he could scare you practically he would. He loved to do small things that would be absolutely hilarious, like waving at the blind, not speaking a hello, waving. He also made the best sound effects. During Christmas his favorite thing was to edit lyrics to beloved Christmas hymns which he would sing at inopportune moments. Family favorites include O Holy Night and Frosty The Snowman. He also had the most hilarious cereal jingles, one of which would typically be sung when someone wasn’t feeling well.
He was an animal lover throughout his life. During a trip to his beloved aunts family farm he made friends with a chicken, who became dinner later that evening. This caused him to never eat chicken on the bone again. He was allergic to dogs, so had many cats. He could make any cat love him, his giant black cat Lucifer was the meanest cat in the world, but would cuddle Terry. He took time when picking out a name for a cat, but he always had the best ones.
Much like his love for animals, Terry couldn’t stand any rhetoric that demeaned any one person. If it made someone feel less like a human being he would argue with you about being a bigot, and likely had read a book about bigotry of your type and could back himself up. If you also couldn’t provide proof of something, he wouldn’t listen to your argument until you could give him something concrete. His grandfather was a free methodist minister and his young grandson sat in the front pew of the church on Sundays listening to fire and brimstone sermons. When asked why he wasn’t religious Terry would go back to those times when a man was so imbued and so confident about religion, and had literally no proof of it. Some would say he had no faith, his family will actually fight you, and remind you that those who are highly intelligent don’t believe everything they hear.
During the last few years of his life Terry suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia. He became tired and it was hard for him to do all of the things he loved. He joins his parents the Late Donald W. Truesdale and The Late Sally Irene Carlson Truesdale. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sheri; daughters, Dany and Chelsea; grandchildren, Layne and Haeleigh; siblings, Lynne (Laura), Elaine (Mike), and Thair (Jenny); beloved aunt Mary Ellen Carlson; nieces and nephews, Lynne’, Angela, Marcus, and Nathan; as well as many other extended family members and friends.
In the essence of what Terry loved, there will be no formal funeral. It wouldn’t fit him. Instead there will be a picnic at Washington Park on Saturday, July 18th from 4:30 until 8PM.In true Terry fashion, please be sure that you bring your own chair and/or blanket as well as something tasty to share; Terry’s favorites include chocolate, Pabst and chocolate.Terry’s family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at the Denver Hospice, if you wish to make a donation in Terry’s memory you may make one to The Denver Hospice or The Denver Dumb Friends League. The family also wishes to thank the staff and directors at Olinger Hampden for their kind assistance and warmth.
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