Terrence ‘Terry’ Kumpf
Terrence Kumpf, 74, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on hospice on Monday, October 31, 2022, at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Terry was born October 17, 1948 in Ipswich, SD to Carl and Eva (Blanchette) Kumpf. Terry grew up in Mina attending a township school, as well as school in Ipswich. He then attended high school at Aberdeen Central graduating in May 1966.
Terry served in the Army during the Vietnam war from March 1968 until being honorably discharged in 1970. Shortly after returning home, he met the love of his life, Ava. They married on July 18, 1970. They welcomed their first son Bradley on August 9, 1971. At the time he worked for Tessier doing sheet metal work. In April 1974, he started working for the United States Post Office as a mailman. On September 20, 1974 they welcomed their daughter, Heather, and soon after, bought their first home on the south side of town. Their son, Jason, was born on February 28, 1979 to complete their family.
In 1986 they sold their home and moved to the country where they loved living on a hobby farm. He loved having horses, his tractor, and loved his dog, Fritz. The family moved back into town a few years later where Terry retired from the USPS after 31 years, at the young age of 55. He had a strong work ethic and worked for Twin City Roofing, M & H, The Pub, Lafayette Casino, and his, most favorite part-time gig, working for Harr Motors. He never needed to work, however he loved to keep busy and enjoyed being with other people.
In March of 2013, he was faced with pneumonia that nearly took his life, where he spent a total of 22 weeks in the hospital between Sanford and the VA. At that time, he chose sobriety and his Higher Power. Terry was a fixture at the Yellow House where he had an amazing family who supported him, and he in turned helped so many. At the time of his death, he had nine years of sobriety. We are forever thankful he made that choice because we got so many extra years with him.
Terry loved bowling and achieved every bowler’s dream scoring a 300. He also enjoyed golfing, horses, and car races, playing cards, dancing, and his biggest love of all, fishing with his family.
Grateful for sharing his life are his sons Bradley Kumpf, Jason (Erin) Kumpf, and daughter Heather Wilkinson; granddaughters; Haley (Jonas) Benoit, Faythe Grinstead, Tiana Kumpf, and Avalee Kumpf; grandsons Christopher Wilkinson and Matthew Wilkinson; great-grandsons; Jameson Benoit and Finn Kumpf; his sisters Cheryl Nielsen, and Ione; his bonus daughter, Darcie; so many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, as well as his fur baby, Zoey Ann.
Welcoming Terry in Heaven are his wife, Ava Kumpf; his parents Carl and Eva Kumpf; brothers Randy Kumpf, Vern Kumpf, Charles (Bud) Kumpf, Lee Kumpf; sisters Virginia Knittel, Inez Dutenhoeffer, Lulabell (Lu) Utne, and Ilene Nies; his granddaughter, Kayla Kumpf, and daughter-in-law Susie Kumpf.