Terry Horras

Terry Joe Horras, 85, passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines following a stroke.

Terry was born May 26, 1937, in Clear Creek Township, Iowa, the son of Albert "Bud" and Agnes (Hammes) Horras. He attended elementary school at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School in rural Harper and graduated from Keota Community High School in 1955.

In 1961, he and Margaret Ann Egan (Marg) met on the church steps in Keota when they were partners in the wedding of their best friends. The young farmer from Southeast Iowa began making trips to Des Moines to see Marg and her family. They married on June 1, 1963, at the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines, and made their home in Brighton. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

Farming, family, and faith were important to Terry. He fell in love with farming as a young boy and it was his lifelong passion. He and his brothers, Gordon and Leland, owned land in Keokuk and Jefferson counties where they raised corn, soybeans, and livestock. Known as the “Horras Brothers,” they won many yield contests and awards and were proud to own ground that had been in the family for more than 150 years. When Terry (reluctantly) retired from farming, he continued to help his nephews, Dan and Dave Horras, who are sixth-generation farmers in the Horras family. After Terry and Marg moved to Clive, Iowa, in 2014 to be near their children and grandchildren, Terry’s nephews checked in frequently to update him on their farming operation and get his advice.

As a young man, Terry was known as quite a dancer and won several dance contests over the years. He could jitterbug like no other. He recently told his wife there was no one he loved dancing with more than her-they were perfectly matched on the dance floor and in life.

Terry never met a stranger. He could talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything. He enjoyed attending activities of his children and grandchildren over the years, taking in many band and vocal music concerts, basketball, football, and soccer games, track and cross country meets, and piano and dance recitals. He was a fan of NASCAR and the Iowa Hawkeyes, enjoyed hunting, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marg Horras (Clive); four children, Francie Peterson (Gary) of West Des Moines, Angie Horras of West Des Moines, Pam Riley (TJ) of Altoona, and Tim Horras (Susan) of West Des Moines, and four grandchildren, Kathleen Riley (Minneapolis), Alex Peterson (Kansas City), and Lauren and Jack Riley (Altoona).

Other survivors are his brother, Leland (Mari), and five sisters, Shirley Fieweger, Kathy Horner, Connie Kelly, Bonnie Pechman (Doug), and Mary Beth Bohr (Jon), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gordon and Jerome, and an infant sister.

The funeral service is at 11 am on Thursday, February 2 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, followed by a meal. Burial will be at a later date at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. Visitation is from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, February 1 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale.

Memorials can be made to the family for charities to be determined at a later date. Cards and memorials may be sent to the family at 16829 Airline Drive, Clive, IA 50325.