1948
Terry
2024
Terry France
October 15, 1948 — January 4, 2024
Terry Lee France (75), of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, passed away on January 4, 2024 peacefully in his home surrounded by friends and family.
Terry was born to William and Bernice France on October 15, 1948 and raised in Prentice, Wisconsin; a town that meant a lot to him. He grew up fishing, water skiing, and spent many hours hunting in the woods. He served as an altar boy, attended school at Prentice High School, worked in his dad’s service station, and was a drummer in the band Alley Cats. Terry love for baseball started with playing little league. Terry had a natural curiosity for how things worked and all things mechanical. He would tear things apart as a small child, something that drove his parents nuts but undoubtedly led to his knack of being able to fix anything.
Terry is survived by his wife Colleen and two children, Jesse and Matt (Kelly). He is also survived by his brother Bruce (Penny) and sister Rita (Ron) Boucher along with is grandchildren Kyle, Lillian, Brady, Lucah and Chelan. Terry was predeceased by his parents, Willam and Bernice and his brother William.
Terry did not date much until he met Colleen. According to Terry’s siblings, she was the one from the minute he saw her. The two of them met at UW-Eau Claire, first time in the fall of 1970 then again in 1972 after he spent time in the army as a motor pool supervisor at Fort Carson, Colorado. Terry wanted to get married on April 1 st but Colleen didn’t go along with that as she didn’t want to walk to the altar to hear Terry say “April Fools” and walk out. So, they got married on April 5, 1975 in Eau Claire, WI.
Terry graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in accounting. After graduating he worked as a cost accountant for 38 years for Armour and Machine Industries. He enjoyed coaching baseball for many years. He referred to all of the boys he coached as “his boys” and thought of them that way. Terry enjoyed bowling and bowled for over 45 years at Wagner’s. He loved all animals, especially cats. He enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels and watching the wildlife on his trail cams. He loved reading and watching westerns. He enjoyed his coffee and daily crossword/sudoku puzzles. Terry loved family get togethers at the cabin on Soo Lake as a child and later in life, with his wife Colleen, built a cabin in Prentice in hopes that their children and grandchildren could experience some of what was so dear to him.
Some of the kid’s and grandchildren’s favorite memories include rescuing bunnies, raking leaves, discussing baseball and playing for him, deer hunting, walking through the woods, him taking us trick-or-treating on Halloween, celebrating Easter outside searching for gifts, celebrating Christmas downstairs by the fireplace, tossing a football or baseball, playing around-the-world (basketball), his clever nicknames for people and animals (Lily Lou, Mr. B, Luke the Spook), getting help changing oil on the car (or anything car related), going to grandma and grandpa’s after school to hang out and eat grandpa sized ice cream bowls, whisker rubs, playing games on his computer, horse rides on his very long legs, riding on his shoulders, building a tree fort, and Happy Birthday spankings.
He would always say, “The key to a happy life is a strong foundation. A building can’t stand without one.” He would also say, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.” Terry’s smile, wisdom, and love of the outdoors will be greatly missed but will remain in our hearts and our memories until we meet again.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, 535 S. Hillcrest Parkway, Altoona with Pastor Paul Weber officiating. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will full military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2024 at the Hackett Cemetery, Prentice, WI.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to either Bob’s House for Dogs or Eau Claire County Humane Association, in Terry’s name as this were organizations very dear to him.
Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.stokesprockandmundt.com .
Terry was born to William and Bernice France on October 15, 1948 and raised in Prentice, Wisconsin; a town that meant a lot to him. He grew up fishing, water skiing, and spent many hours hunting in the woods. He served as an altar boy, attended school at Prentice High School, worked in his dad’s service station, and was a drummer in the band Alley Cats. Terry love for baseball started with playing little league. Terry had a natural curiosity for how things worked and all things mechanical. He would tear things apart as a small child, something that drove his parents nuts but undoubtedly led to his knack of being able to fix anything.
Terry is survived by his wife Colleen and two children, Jesse and Matt (Kelly). He is also survived by his brother Bruce (Penny) and sister Rita (Ron) Boucher along with is grandchildren Kyle, Lillian, Brady, Lucah and Chelan. Terry was predeceased by his parents, Willam and Bernice and his brother William.
Terry did not date much until he met Colleen. According to Terry’s siblings, she was the one from the minute he saw her. The two of them met at UW-Eau Claire, first time in the fall of 1970 then again in 1972 after he spent time in the army as a motor pool supervisor at Fort Carson, Colorado. Terry wanted to get married on April 1 st but Colleen didn’t go along with that as she didn’t want to walk to the altar to hear Terry say “April Fools” and walk out. So, they got married on April 5, 1975 in Eau Claire, WI.
Terry graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in accounting. After graduating he worked as a cost accountant for 38 years for Armour and Machine Industries. He enjoyed coaching baseball for many years. He referred to all of the boys he coached as “his boys” and thought of them that way. Terry enjoyed bowling and bowled for over 45 years at Wagner’s. He loved all animals, especially cats. He enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels and watching the wildlife on his trail cams. He loved reading and watching westerns. He enjoyed his coffee and daily crossword/sudoku puzzles. Terry loved family get togethers at the cabin on Soo Lake as a child and later in life, with his wife Colleen, built a cabin in Prentice in hopes that their children and grandchildren could experience some of what was so dear to him.
Some of the kid’s and grandchildren’s favorite memories include rescuing bunnies, raking leaves, discussing baseball and playing for him, deer hunting, walking through the woods, him taking us trick-or-treating on Halloween, celebrating Easter outside searching for gifts, celebrating Christmas downstairs by the fireplace, tossing a football or baseball, playing around-the-world (basketball), his clever nicknames for people and animals (Lily Lou, Mr. B, Luke the Spook), getting help changing oil on the car (or anything car related), going to grandma and grandpa’s after school to hang out and eat grandpa sized ice cream bowls, whisker rubs, playing games on his computer, horse rides on his very long legs, riding on his shoulders, building a tree fort, and Happy Birthday spankings.
He would always say, “The key to a happy life is a strong foundation. A building can’t stand without one.” He would also say, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.” Terry’s smile, wisdom, and love of the outdoors will be greatly missed but will remain in our hearts and our memories until we meet again.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, 535 S. Hillcrest Parkway, Altoona with Pastor Paul Weber officiating. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will full military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2024 at the Hackett Cemetery, Prentice, WI.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to either Bob’s House for Dogs or Eau Claire County Humane Association, in Terry’s name as this were organizations very dear to him.
Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.stokesprockandmundt.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terry France, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, January 12, 2024
5:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel
Service
Friday, January 12, 2024
Starts at 6:00 pm (Central time)
Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel
Interment
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Hackett Cemetery
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