| Bio | ind. Strong. Generous. Terry was kind. His 6'2" frame and tough exterior was intimidating at first glance, but his million dollar smile calmed those nerves in an instant. From the tellers at his bank, to a stranger in a checkout line, he made every interaction count. With a friendly wink and some chit-chat, he turned a monotonous errand into a reminder of the world's inherent goodness. Terry was strong. After clocking out each afternoon, he spent his evenings helping out anyone who needed it. Whether he was working in the pit of a speedway, or building a brand new deck on his house, he was always doing something. A medical crisis took his leg when he was 46, but not even that could slow him down. As soon as his prosthetic was fitted, he pushed through the chronic pain that comes with an amputation, and finished replacing the stairs at his home. He was a rock, a flannel-clad gladiator, our very own iron man. Terry was generous. He got a job as a teenager to help support his family, and continued taking care of the ones he loved for the rest of his life. He spent every day putting his family before himself, and never complained. He supported his wife of 25 years, Rita Fay Whisenand. He supported his children, Heather Whisenand Tremper, Brandon Whisenand, Chris Lewis, Steven Muro, and Sherry Lewis. He supported his grandchildren, Nicholas Tremper, Zachary Tremper, Nina Muro, Shyla Lewis, Brianne Tremper, Kain Muro, and Issac Whisenand. He supported his siblings, Bill Whisenand, and Sharon Whisenand Rampy. He supported his best friend of 55 years, Dennis Turner. He even supported the stranger on the side of the road with their hazards flashing, ready to change their flat tire so they could get back on their way. Terry Whisenand was so many things to so many people. To know him was to love him, and he would love you right back. A thousand pages could be written about the 65 years we got him for, but it still wouldn't scratch the surface of the incredible, complex, amazing man that he was. So we will just leave you with the three words that defined his life: Kind. Strong. Generous. Terry passed away Thursday, March 23, 2017. A celebration of Terry's life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, at Highland Park Funeral Home, 4101 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102. Friends may visit the evening before, Monday, March 27, 2017 between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment Highland Park Cemetery. Arr.: Highland Park Funeral Home and Crematory Service, (913) 371-0699. Highland Park Funeral Home & Crematory, 4101 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102, 913-371-0699 |
