White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Terrance Leon “Terry” Thiessen, 85, of Independence, Iowa, and formerly of Winthrop, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at St. John Catholic Church in Independence, with burial to follow at St. John Catholic Cemetery. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be said at 9:00 a.m. - Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the church followed by visitation at the church, until service time.

Terry was born April 25, 1940, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Stanley Herman Thiessen and Helen Geneva (Reynolds) Thiessen. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Clinton, Iowa, in 1959. He then attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, where he excelled in track and field and was later inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1963.

Following graduation, Terry entered Mt. St. Bernard Seminary, earning a doctorate in Theology in 1967. He was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Davenport and served in ministry until 1969.

On October 3, 1969, Terry was united in marriage to Carol Ann Peterschmidt in Davenport. The couple later divorced. After leaving active ministry, he began a career with New York Life Insurance in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he advanced to sales manager in 1972. In 1975, he was promoted to general manager in New Orleans, and in 1979, he assumed leadership of the Waterloo, Iowa office.

In 1990, Terry transitioned to Catholic Aid Life Insurance as regional manager for the State of Iowa. He later returned to fieldwork as an insurance agent with Knights of Columbus Insurance, where he appreciated the independence and personal connections of the role. He retired in 2005.

On December 3, 1998, Terry married Judy (White) Decker in Independence. They later divorced.

Terry found great joy in trout fishing, golfing, and hiking. He was dedicated to serving others, mentoring elementary students, assisting with high school football statistics, and volunteering in hospice care.

He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Esposito of Glendale, California; his son, Benjamin Thiessen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two grandchildren, Dominic and Angelo Esposito; two brothers, Gary Thiessen of South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and Emmett (Judy) Thiessen of Eau Claire, Michigan; and one sister, Winnifred Holmes of Elkader, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Patty and Joseph Millea; his sister-in-law, Ruth Thiessen; and his brother-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Holmes.

Online condolences may be left at www.White-MtHope.com.
White Funeral Home in Independence is assisting the family with arrangements.