Terry Hutchings

On December 13th, 1946 Terrance (Terry) Hutchings was born in Red Oak, Iowa; the second child of three siblings to Garland and Loretta Anderson Hutchings. Terry attended Prescott Community School from kindergarten to high school graduation. He was a class member of Prescott’s first kindergarten class. Terry played basketball, baseball, and was in the high school plays, graduating in May, 1964.
Terry attended Creston Community College in Creston, Iowa. On May 21, 1966, Terry and Stephanie Hethcote were united in marriage. The couple celebrated 49+ years together. Terry attended Peru State College; Peru, Nebraska, graduating with a B.A. in Social Sciences and related fields in January, 1969. He first taught and coached at Lost Nation, Iowa. Terry taught and coached at Grand Valley School District in Kellerton, Iowa.
In December 1973 Terry was blessed to have a son Kirk who was the joy of his life. Terry also taught and coached at Clearfield and Malvern, Iowa. Terry loved teaching and coaching. He wanted to instill the significance of history and the knowledge of government into each student. He loved sports and wanted to share his winning attitude with his players for them to use in sports and life situations.
Terry attended NWMSU in Maryville, Iowa and received his Master in Educational Administration in 1977. He served as principal in Rolfe, Iowa for one year. For the next 23 years, Terry was principal and then superintendent at Adair-Casey School District in rural Adair, Iowa. While at AC, he also coached basketball – getting to coach his son and to have a team advance to the Iowa State Basketball Tournament. He received his Specialist in Education Degree from NWMSU in 1995. Terry retired from education in Iowa after serving 33 years. He then went “across the border” and was superintendent at South Nodaway RIV School District in Barnard, Missouri for 7.5 years. While at SN RIV the district was honored as a Missouri Gold Star School in both elementary and secondary, and a National Blue Ribbon School in elementary. Terry always felt blessed in the mentors, teachers, and noncertified staff that he worked with in each district. He enjoyed working with parents and school boards to make successful the students he taught, coached, and mentored. He was a true educator and valued each student that he encountered.
Terry retired in December 2009. He had some health challenges but was able to remain an avid Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboy, and Iowa Hawkeye fan. His “boy” Daedric was born in August 2013 and was the second joy in Poppa’s life. He often said “I knew I would love a grandchild, but not how very much I would love them.
Terry felt very blessed in his life and when diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in January, 2015, he requested of his family they handle this with dignity and grace. Terry treasured his family, his family pets and was always there to encourage or lend a helping hand. He was a very ethical person and expected the same out of others, but never expected more than he was willing to give. Loyalty was another value that Terry felt was important. Terry went home to the Lord on June 19, 2015; dying at home under Southwest Iowa Hospice care. Terry lived his life with the attitude that the glass is always half full. He and his whole family believed it is not good bye, but until we meet again.
Terry is survived by his wife Stephanie at their home in rural Corning, Iowa; his son Kirk (wife Hailey), grandson Daedric and unborn granddaughter Anneva, of Greenfield, Iowa. His sister Sandra Heaton; brother Craig (wife Linda), all of Creston, Iowa. His niece and almost daughter Tami Day (husband Tom) and family of Creston, Iowa. Nephews Chris (wife Kari) Hutchings of Corning, Iowa and Anthony Hutchings of Creston, Iowa and his Aunt Henrietta Hutchings of Red Oak, Iowa. Many cousins, other family, and friends.
Preceding Terry in death were his parents