Terry Emrick Obituary

Terry Alan Emrick

Terry Alan Emrick, 73, of Findlay, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025, after a six-month battle with small-cell prostate cancer. He was born September 26, 1951, to the late Rev. Wendell W. Emrick and Mary E. (Rosser) Emrick and was married to Janie (Dorsey) Emrick for 37 years. Terry is survived by his wife; children, Ross (Dana) Emrick of Plain City, and Bennett Emrick of Columbus; and beloved grandsons, Jackson Wiley Emrick and Gatlin Boone Emrick. He is also survived by his sisters, Dr. Patricia (Jeff) Kennedy of Ft Wayne, Indiana, and Susan Cattran of Canal Winchester; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Terry attended Lancaster High School (Class of 1969) and graduated from Ohio University with a degree in music education. His student teaching experience made him reevaluate his career choice, and he spent the next 32 years with the State of Ohio Adult Parole Authority, retiring as a unit supervisor. He then worked as an American Family Insurance agent, a RV transporter, at Findlay Bike Shop, and as a bus driver for HeadStart, always finding joy in helping and talking to people.

Terry's true passion was music. He waschoral director for Mill Stream Singers and Findlay Civic Men's Choir, as well as serving as minister of mMusic for St John's Lutheran Church. He played in Findlay Civic Jazz Band, Bluffton College Jazz Ensemble, Standard Time Jazz Quintet, Nightjazz, and performed with the University of Findlay and Findlay Light Opera Theater Productions. He felt his crowning achievement was touring for 13 years with the group he founded, Messiah Quartet.

Terry was a member of Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club, riding thousands of miles annually. He loved traveling with his family in their RV, as well as boating on Lake Erie and in Englewood, Florida--all with their dog, Brutus. Terry loved cooking for and entertaining his family and friends. He was always the first to help anyone who asked, loyalty and dependability defined Terry.

Above all, Terry loved Jesus and had accepted Him as his Savior. He was a loving husband, dad and papaw, who, according to his sons, attended EVERY concert, sporting event, FFE activity and school event, pitching in where needed. He helped his kids move numerous times and sometimes traveled with his eldest son on work trips, where he enjoyed the local cuisine, including "the best sushi of his life." He never tired of telling his kids and grandsons how much he loved them and how proud of them he was.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Blanchard Valley Hospital and Armes Cancer Center for their outstanding and loving care.

You are invited to honor Terry's life at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Living Hope Church, 2515 Heatherwood Drive, Findlay.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Friday, March 28,2025, at Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, 500 Lima Avenue, Findlay, and an additional hour of visitation at the church, from 10- 11 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan's Purse, https://samaritanspurse.org or Living Hope Church Music Ministry, 2515 Heatherwood Drive, Findlay, Ohio 45840.

Online condolences may be shared at www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com.