Terry Cowell

Terry Cowell passed away at his home Wednesday, August 21st, 2024.  Terry (Terrill) Cowell was born February 7th, 1947, and raised by Marie and Vern Cowell in Hubbard, IA.

Terry graduated with the Hubbard Class of 1966, joined the Air Force, and proudly served his country for three years in the United States and Korea.  During this time in 1967, he married the love of his life, Sandra Boeke, whom he continually referred to as “my girlfriend” and bragged that he scored the “pick of the litter” of the Boeke girls.  Terry and Sandy had two daughters and were married for 57 years.

After leaving the Air Force he attended and graduated from the University of Iowa with a business degree.  After working for several years for International Harvester he joined the family IH Implement Dealership in Hubbard, IA.  His 41 year implement dealership career culminated with the ownership of the Iowa Falls Case IH Dealership, sale to Titan Machinery, and retirement in 2015.

Those who knew Terry would hear interesting tales from his childhood such as driving a high school bus while he was a senior in high school, tying up a student who wouldn’t stop picking on his classmates, and doing burn outs with the bus.  Terry also famously protected Sandy from other potential suitors by driving to his rival’s house and sabotaging his car so he wouldn’t be able to meet Sandy and would “borrow” his future father in-law’s car to go race on HWY 65.

In addition to his family, faith, and career Terry’s passions included landscaping and gardening, fishing, and watching his beloved Hawkeyes.  Terry’s family often speak of how Terry would get sick before games due to nerves and the girls would hope for a win because they may get an extra treat on the way home.

Terry also served his community spending time as youth group leader and on the church council.  Terry also was president of the Hubbard school board for many years and led the merger of Hubbard with neighboring Radcliffe. 

Terry and Sandy have lived in a small neighborhood in Ankeny, IA since 2016 where all the neighbors immediately got to know “the neighborhood landscaper” who was always willing to help them and worked to keep the association looking good.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents Marie and Vern, mother and father-in-law Doris and Melvin Boeke, brother-in-law Tim Dreier, and his sister and brother-in-law Anita and Dick Goodwin.

Terry is survived by “his girlfriend” Sandra, sister Patty (Kenny) Beaver, two children Machelle (Rob) Clark of Story City, IA and DeeDee (Rodney) Miller of Ankeny, IA.  Terry loved spending time with his eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Peggy (David) Dreier, Rita Dreier, brother-in-law Monty (Karen) Boeke, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

As we mourn our loss of Terry, we celebrate his life filled with love, laughter, and many amazing memories.