Terry Cole, Sr

Terry Cole Sr, 77, of Galesburg, IL, died Friday, January 31, 2025, peacefully at home surrounded by his loving granddaughters and great grandchildren from complications of Agent Orange exposure from his time served in Vietnam. Cremation was accorded and a celebration of his life will be held from 1-3pm on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the American Legion, 749 Henderson Rd, Knoxville, IL, with military honors at 1:15pm.  Burial will be at a later date at the family plot in Vance Cemetery, Industry IL. 

Terry Lee Cole was born September 27, 1947, in Riverside, CA, a son of Cecil Otis and Nellie Florine (Rhoades) Cole. The family moved to Galesburg in 1949. 1967 was a pivotal year for Terry. He married the love of his life, Sandra “Sandi” Plunkett in January, graduated from Galesburg High School and then was drafted into the Army in the fall. They celebrated the birth of their son Terry Jr in 1968. Although Terry and Sandi later divorced, they remained close friends and would often take vacations or go play bingo together.

Terry started working at Admiral / Maytag at age 17 on the assembly line before he got the cushy maintenance job, retiring from there in 1996. Terry owned and operated Gramps Snow Cones as a side business, often showing up to his granddaughter’s schools to hand out his treats to everyone. Terry had a dream of moving his snow cone business to Florida, but he found a more important calling as a grandfather and partner in crime to his three beloved granddaughters. Early retirement gave him the opportunity to be a hands-on Grandpa, a role that he cherished.

Terry had the gift of gab and seemed to know everyone. If he didn’t know you, you would soon be his best friend. It wasn’t unheard of to be 1000 miles from home, and he would run into someone that he knew. 

Those left to honor his memory include his son Terry Cole Jr of Galesburg; granddaughters, Robyn (Bryce DeJaynes) Warner of Gilson, IL, Jessica (Michael) Engle of Bettendorf, Megan Cole of Galesburg; great grandchildren, Caiden, Peyton, Lucas, Daxton, Nathan, Adeline; brother Paul Cole of Texas; and nieces Sherry Stapleton and Patricia (Martin) Tucker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Laurena “Sissy” Cole, brothers, Leonard Cole, LeLand Cole, and Otis “Buddy” Cole.

Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com