Terry Standish

Outgoing and personable, Terry Lee Standish was the sort of person everyone seemed to know and love. He was a stranger to none and a friend to all, and a friend of Terry’s was a friend for life. Although he accomplished many things of which to be proud, he was a humble man whose greatest source of pride and joy was found in the family he cherished. Although he worked hard throughout his life, Terry also took the time to enjoy life along the way. He will be deeply missed, but he leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII raged on. Countless young servicemen and women were serving overseas while rationing became a way of life for those who remained stateside. While families awaited the latest news from the front lines, manufacturing was almost entirely focused on supporting the war effort. There was dancing in the street with the end of the war in 1945, and it was as we were making the shift to being a nation at peace once again that Arthur and Maxine (Earle) Standish were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named Terry L. on August 21, 1946, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was the second of four children as he was raised in the family home in Comstock alongside his older brother, Richard, and his younger siblings, Dave and Brian. To support their family, Terry’s father worked at Kalamazoo Swimming Pool while his mother worked as a cook for Comstock Public School. In addition to holding down his studies, Terry was a pitcher on his high school baseball team.

As a young man, Terry was eager for all that life had in store. He joined the United States Navy after the eleventh grade, eager to answer the call to serve during a time of great need. Terry served during the Vietnam War, and once his military duties were fulfilled he returned home and earned his GED from Comstock High School. During this time he also worked at a party store in Kalamazoo.

Not to be forgotten during Terry’s years as a young man was his introduction to the woman who would change the course of his life forever. Her name was Kawon, and she lived in an apartment just down the road. They soon began dating but when the couple had a fight, she moved to Florida to live with her parents. Still determined to make things work, Terry drove a Volkswagen bug all the way down to Florida to go after the woman he loved. True love won in the end, and the couple was married in 1970. Although they divorced in 1990, Terry was always so grateful for the births of their daughters, Danielle in 1972 and Courtney in 1979. He loved spending time with his family, and some of their best memories were made while camping. The family also had a black lab named Bridgette, which was Terry’s bird dog. Terry spent many of his working days at Fullers Corp, but he later sold cars for DeNooyer Chevrolet. As his family and friends can attest, he loved to drive his corvette.

Over the years Terry was forever on the go. He enjoyed being outdoors and loved both fishing and golfing. For years Terry was on a bowling league, and he looked forward to going to his grandparents’ lodge in Kalkaska. A lover of warm weather, he spent some time living in Florida and also spent a couple of months living on a boat in St. Thomas. Terry loved breakfast food anytime of the day with steak, eggs, and hash browns being the foods he really loved. An avid Elvis fan, Terry once stood in line all night to get tickets to see him. Later in life he was forced to cut back as became ill with vestibular neuritis, which caused vertigo. This left Terry unable to work or play golf. He enjoyed playing Keno, and he was recently baptized and had been going to church with his mother.

All who knew Terry Standish would agree that he was an extraordinary man to know and love. Loving and caring, he accepted everyone for who they are and made friends wherever he was. Known for his sense of humor and love for life, Terry made the world around him so much fun. He will never be forgotten.

Terry L. Standish, of Kalamazoo, passed away after a brief illness, on January 9, 2018 at Borgess Hospital. Terry’s family includes his mother, Maxine Tabbia; two children: Danielle (Matt) DeBoer, Courtney (Mike) Teske and their mother, Kawon Roschek; five grandchildren: Samantha DeBoer, Madison DeBoer, Kaiya Steves, Carly Steves and Mason Teske; two brothers: Dave (Sandy) Standish and Brian Standish as well as several nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Standish and his brother, Richard Standish. Visit with his family and friends and view his life story film on Monday, January 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Portage; 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600). A memorial service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the same location. Please visit Terry’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online. In lieu of flowers, an educational fund for Terry’s grandchildren has been set up at PNC Bank.