Terry A. Ochs, 77, passed away on January 6, 2026, at his home in Guernsey, IA.

A memorial gathering will be held on January 13, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Brooklyn, IA. Military honors will be performed at 4:00 pm, with the memorial gathering to follow until 6:00 pm.

Memorials may be designated to Gloria Ochs, mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Terry was born on March 16, 1948, in Grinnell, IA. He was raised by his parents, Vernon and Grace (Graham) Ochs, in the Brooklyn area. Terry was baptized and attended St. John's Lutheran church in rural Victor, IA. He was educated in the Brooklyn schools until he entered the U.S. Navy as a SeaBee (Construction Battalions) at 17 years old.

Terry did two tours in Vietnam and a six-month tour in Antarctica. He earned a National Defense Service Medal, an Antarctic Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal. Upon his discharge in April 1969, Terry returned to the Brooklyn area.

On January 17, 1970, Terry was united in marriage to Gloria Hinrichs at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Victor. To this union the couple had two sons, Kurt and Dan.

Terry was an avid hunter and trapper from an early age. He loved rabbit hunting around Brooklyn with his brother Roger, and his best friends, Mike and Lonnie. He later raised rabbits with Larry Brannian. He loved fishing with friends in Missouri or anywhere until he couldn't be left alone without falling in.

After a major stroke in 1998, he worked hard to get back to competing and won many trapshooting awards. He was an avid knife collector, especially Marbles knives, and even has one from Wells Fargo Stagecoach.

A few of his treasured memories was seeing his grandson at a trap competition, with Terry's own gun, hit 25 straight his first time. Watching Colt, who was 12 at the time, use the gun his grandpa got him. Taking a prize antelope in one shot, and getting photos of his first great grandchild, Riley Ochs.

Terry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria, of rural Guernsey, his sons, Kurt (Brandy) Ochs of Victor, and Dan (Brook) Ochs of Buffalo, WY, his grandchildren, Grace and Hunter Ochs, of Minnesota, Zane, Quincy and Colt Ochs of Buffalo, WY, his step-grandchildren, Zach and Bri Panosh, his brother, Roger (Judy) Ochs of Chelsea, IA, and many family and friends that he loved and they so loved him.

He is preceded by parents, Vernon and Grace Ochs, his sister, Sandra, his biological father, Lloyd Keller, and all the other Veterans with PTSD that they just couldn't live with.