Terrance John Winders, 79, of Louisville, KY passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Norton Brownsboro Hospital surrounded by his loving daughters. He was born on November 25, 1942 in Washington D.C. to John and Frances (Morton) Winders. He was raised in Dubuque, Iowa and graduated in 1960 from Dubuque Senior High School where he played on the football team and organized social events and class dances. He married his high school sweetheart Beverly Jean Haas on September 12, 1964, for 57 years. Shortly after being married, Terry and Beverly moved to San Jose, California where they lived for 10 years before moving to Louisville, Kentucky where they spent the remainder of their lives.
He is survived by his daughters Sara (Phil) McWhirter and Kelly (Luis)Flores, daughter-in-law Heather Winders, four grandchildren whom he dearly loved: Alton & Avie McWhirter, Emiliano & Antonio Flores, step-grandchildren Bella and Hope, sister Mary Jean (Winders) Stephens, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Beverly (Haas) Winders, devoted son Jason Winders, and parents John and Frances Winders.
Terry worked mainly in the banking and finance industry specializing in leasing for various companies and eventually started his own consulting firm, Winders Consulting LLC, for the equipment leasing industry. He really enjoyed teaching seminars on equipment leasing, working with the world bank, and even wrote and published several books on the topic. He attended the University of Dubuque as well as the College of Notre Dame California where he received his MBA.
Terry had such a big personality and was very social. He never met a stranger and was comfortable telling anyone his life story, especially his experience with plane crashes. Despite his plane crashes, he still professed that it is safer to fly than drive. He was an avid pilot in his younger years and he dearly loved to fly. He also really enjoyed to fish. He always included both an airplane and a boat on his Christmas list. His other love included travelling to see new places. He was able to travel frequently to all parts of the US, Russia, and France for work. Ultimately his favorite travel memories included fishing trips to Alaska, playing poker in Las Vegas, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, San Francisco and going to the beach/fishing in Hawaii. His other hobbies included golfing, wood working, playing poker, playing the lottery, and going to the casinos. In his later years, his priorities focused more on his grandchildren. He truly loved his grandchildren and encouraged their individual interests by playing games including dominoes and UNO, watching dances, baking treats, doing holiday activities, going to zoos, buying them tons of presents, and listening to endless facts about animals.
Terry was such a generous person. He was always willing to help someone in need, he would have given his shirt off his back if necessary. He found so much joy in giving gifts to people, and it was always important to him to put a lot of thought into a gift and to try to find something extra special and different. He loved making a statement with either the clothes/costume he wore, events he planned for people, or gifts he bought. The goal was always to be over the top.
Terry was such an animal lover. He had hoped to one day have a farm with lots of animals and fruit trees, especially cherry. He loved to grow cherries just to make a cherry pie. He also loved to grow tomatoes and had a new idea every year for how to grow them so the rabbits wouldn't eat them. Lastly, he truly loved his golden retrievers, Chewy, Lilly, Jazzie, and most recently Sally who brought him such excitement in his lasts few weeks. We are so grateful that he had Sally to comfort him and bring him joy in the end. His absence will be felt by all he knew and loved him, and he will truly be missed. May his memory be a blessing to all that knew him.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals, and Receptions (235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, KY 40243) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm with service to follow beginning at 2:00pm. Terry's final resting place will be at Cave Hill Cemetery (701 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204).
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