Terry Yeiter

In the grand cosmic joke book, the chapter dedicated to Terry Yeiter starts with the line, “Born in Warsaw, Indiana, on April 15, 1947, left us on Oct. 29, 2024, in Denver, Colorado, Terry was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, then tease you about your fashion sense.” A compassionate soul with a wit as sharp as a tack, Terry spent his life split between the cornfields of Clunette and the sprawling metropolis of Fort Wayne. He was a man of many hats — a dedicated father, a resilient drug and alcohol counselor, and a loyal grandfather (thanks to Pat!)

Terry was always willing to take another chance on love. But when Patricia (Pat) came into his life, she won his heart. She had a way of bringing out the best in him, which, as anyone would agree, took a special kind of magic.

Terry was known for his funny stories, spun with the skill of a seasoned comedian. His sense of humor was as much a part of him as his love for sports cars, watching sports and his dog, Missy. It was this humor that made him such an effective counselor, helping people recover from addiction with a unique blend of empathy, honesty and a joke or two to lighten the mood.

One of Terry’s more legendary antics once ended with his father exclaiming, “Terry, you’re just not quite right!” — a phrase that would stick with him for life, often said with a twinkle in his eye whenever he was up to something mischievous.

Behind his laughter, though, was a man who was deeply dedicated to his friends, family and anyone in need of his help. Terry is survived by his two sons, Tobey Yeiter and J.D. (Sara) Yeiter; his stepchildren,­­ Sandi (Ken) Chudzicki, Elizabeth (Anthony Jones) Hanks and Edwin (Rosie) Hanks; his eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his brother, Ron (Kim) Yeiter. He was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis; father, Joseph; and wife, Patricia, all of whom we imagine are currently on the receiving end of his latest quip in the great beyond.

Terry was a beloved father, friend and counselor who gave everything he had to those he loved and those in need of his help. His stories and laughter will echo in our hearts, as we remember a man who was, simply put, one of a kind.

We invite you to share your memories and some laughter during Terry’s Celebration of Life from 3-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at The Gathering Place (Fellowship Missions) at 123 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials can be sent to Fellowship Missions in support of homelessness and addiction recovery at fellowshipmissions.net.