Terry J. Nicodemus

Terry J. Nicodemus was a beloved husband, invested father and proud grandparent. His focus was his family, and he put their needs before his own. Perhaps surprisingly, he was a practical joker, but that characteristic rang true of a very outgoing man. Terry was a people-person who enjoyed life and those around him who made it all the sweeter.

Terry was the son of Ernest and Mary Lou (Nicodemus) Tucker, born November 8, 1950 in Wawaka, Indiana. It was a time of optimism, when war had given way to armistice and industry expanded to meet peacetime needs. Americans began buying goods not available during the war, which created corporate expansion and jobs. Growth was everywhere and the baby boom was underway.

Ernest was a local mechanic in Noble County, and Terry and his siblings found creative ways of having fun with car parts. They used an old automobile hood as a sled that they took down the hills in Albion. Terry also liked to fish and visit his grandparents farm. He and his cousins may have had chores to perform, but they also had a good time riding horses and playing outdoors on long summer days.

In his teens, Terrys fondness for cars grew, and his need for speed compensated for the slower pace of fishing, which he continued to enjoy. Hot rod cars were his forte, and with the influence of his dad, he started working on cars. One of his favorites was his 69 Nova. That was the year of his graduation from Central Noble High School, and soon after, Terry joined the U.S. Army.

After his discharge, life changed dramatically for Terry with one simple task. He was filling his car at a local gas station when a young woman caught his eye. Finding out that Connie Frye was working there regularly for her grandparents, the owners, Terry was all the more interested. For several days, he sent his sisters to the station to find out if she was interested in him. Eventually Terry asked Connie out, and when the gas station became their primary meeting place, Terry started working there part time. Gradually, the two of them took responsibility to run the place on the weekends so Connies grandparents could take a break from the shop. Spending that time together was good preparation for marriage, which began on September 18, 1977 at Cromwell United Methodist Church.

Terry spent his employment career working for Weatherhead Dana at the Columbia City location. His retirement in 1999 capped off 30 years of dedicated service. He also was a driver for Whitley County Transit, a division of Woodlands Senior Citizen Center in Columbia City.

When he became a father, Terry spent many hours being the #1 promoter of his son. He led Jeremys Cub Scout troop, coached him in T-ball and followed his wrestling career. In truth, Terry was always there to encourage his son.

As a family, the Nicodemuses took many vacations to New Hampshire to visit Terrys Aunt Tiny. It was a great place to spend a day at the ocean, a day in the mountains and a day go-carting together.

In time, Jeremy married Courtney, and Terry and Connie were blessed with a daughter and then wonderful grandchildren whom Terry called his Little Munchkins. In recent years, they all traveled to Myrtle Beach, and during the summer of 2014, they went to Golf Shores, Alabama. Terry loved his Little Munchkins and joined the fun of playing hide-and-seek, building Lego towers and chasing the Little ones around the house.

On his own time, Terry expended his skills on woodworking, gardening, mowing his lawn and that of the neighbors. He was the kind of person who helped others before doing his own chores. As such, he was a valued member of Big Lake Church of God and of the American Legion.

Terry J. Nicodemus, 63, of Albion, Indiana, passed away at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, October 26, 2014 at his home. He will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered by his beloved family. They include his wife of 37 years, Connie Nicodemus; son, Jeremy M. (Courtney) Nicodemus of Churubusco; grandchildren, Callie, Parker and Brooklyn; brother, James E. (Nila) Tucker of Rome City; sisters, Pamela D. (Jim) Brady of Kendallville and Tami J. (Bill) McKinley of Albion; and sister-in-law, Kit Fulford of Howe. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Charles Fulford.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 2 to 8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the funeral home with Pastor Shawn Easterling officiating. Burial will follow at Christian Chapel Cemetery with the Whitley County Korean War Veterans rendering Military Honors. Memorial gifts may be given in Terrys memory to Big Lake Church of God.