June 22, 1951 – Friday, May 3, 2013
Service Information
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
11:00 A.M.
Visitation Information
AT THE CHURCH IN BUFFALO
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
5-8 P.M.
Terry Allen Runke, age 61, of Buffalo and formerly of Hutchinson passed away on Friday, May 3rd, 2013 while turkey hunting in South Dakota and is now in the great hunting field of heaven.
Terry was born on June 22, 1951 in Hutchinson to Milan & Lucille Carlson Runke.
After graduating from Hutchinson High School he and his friend Leigh Anglin worked on the wheat harvest based out of York, North Dakota working for Don Haugen where they were known as “Haugen’s Heroes” and “Wheat Whackers”.
Terry graduated from Hutchinson Vocational Technical in 1974 in audio visual technology.
Terry worked for The Marshall School System and then moved to Maple Lake and was the Samsung repair man for the metro area.
Terry was an avid hunter and fisherman. He taught gun safety for thirty one years. He was a member of Pheasants Forever, a lifetime member of The NRA, Minnesota Deer hunters, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Hasty-Silver Creek Sportsmans Club.
He was a faithful member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Terry and his wife Gail were married for thirty-eight years on July 27, 1974. The were married in Renville, Minnesota. God blessed their marriage with four children and a grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his father: Milan Runke and his father-in-law: Lowell Bratsch.
He is survived by his wife: Gail; daughters: Sara & fiancé Nick Vergin, Sonia, Rebecca and granddaughter: Anna Jo and a son: Cody; his mother: Lucille Runke; three brothers: Carl (Ardell), Dale (Pat) and Gene (Laurie) Runke; two sisters: Janet (Jim) Thompson and Kay Runke and their families; many hunting and fishing buddies.
Funeral services for Terry Runke will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Buffalo.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 7th from 5-8 P.M. at the church. A Prayer service will be held at 7:30 P.M. Further visitation will be held on Wednesday morning, May 8th one hour prior to services at the church.
Casket Bearers will be Carl Runke, Dale Runke, Gene Runke, Jim Thompson, Kelly Runke and Jack Carlson.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com
Dad…
We miss you so much & love you so much. We think of you each minute of the day. When we close our eyes we can hear you and see you smile. We all know that you are up in heaven in that big hunting sky. We are so proud of you that you got your tom turkey. We know that you are watching over us. Make sure you tell them up there that you have a wonderful granddaughter and all the things you guys have done. Love you & miss you. Becky & Anna Jo….
Daddy, I will forever miss you. You will be in my heart until the day I get to see you again. I will miss hearing your fishing and hunting stories you tell everyone. I enjoyed going hunting with you and Becky your “shopping” trip. I Love You.
I will miss Terry for the simple fact he couldn’t come to the because his blonde of a wife always hurt herself. Will miss his humor too.
It’s hard to find words for what I’m feeling right now. It makes me feel better knowing he passed away doing what really loved doing. Not many people can say that. I know that he is up in heaven telling Dad and Uncle Walt all about that turkey hunt! I share your pain Gail, Sara, Sonia, Becky and Cody. He will be missed but never forgotten. Love you all.
We were so surprised to hear about Terry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Tom and I both have been in this situation, so please don’t hesitate to call us for anything.
My family and I send our deepest condolences.
Becky, Sara & Sonia – I’m sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the three of you and your family. May God give you peace at this time.
I just want to say to Gail, Sonia, Becky, Sara, Cody and Anna I am so sorry for your loss. I thought of Terry like he was my father. I seemed to have a lot in common with Terry for instance we both LOVE to HUNT AND FISH 🙂 We both loved to wear camo and we were proud of it and we always seemed to be wearing a baseball cap and blue jeans. We only have one thing that split us apart… Terry liked FORD TRUCKS! And I liked CHEVY!! We would go round and round on which was better and why. 🙂 It didn’t matter who was right or wrong, I think it was the one thing that set us apart. When I first met him, I had been dating Sara for a couple of months. Sara wanted to go garage saleing to Cokato. I was game, I really liked that kind of stuff. Then she told me, my sisters Anna and my DAD are in town doing the same thing. I suddenly got a really nervous feeling in my gut. Sara said let’s go to Casey’s gas station and you can meet everyone. The girls hopped out of the van at the time I couldn’t tell the 3 apart. Then Terry got out of the van, I was still a little nervous. I noticed the blue jeans and baseball cap and a T-shirt with something about hunting on it. We sat on my tailgate. He brought up, if I like to hunt or fish. I thought to myself (That nervous feeling I had earlier had gone away then) I had thought to myself I really Like Sara’s DAD we hit it off so good! But just before he had got into the van to leave with the girls. He looked at my truck (CHEVY) and said you should get a really truck, Maybe you should look into getting a big boy truck like a (FORD) 🙂 I new life was going to be good!
I am VERY Lucky that I got to spend some time with him alone. to get to know him a little better.
When he asked me to go up to lake of the woods with him and his brothers. I was nervous once again. Gene and Dale went out on there own and left me a lone with Terry, I don’t know why I was Nervous, but after a few minutes with him, I was laughing and almost in tears because his stories, were almost as if I was telling the story myself. We bonded so good over them days fishing I was really hopping to take more trips with Terry.
I really looked up to Terry! He was one in a million. I am very thankful that I got to spend some time with him. He touched my heart. He gave me the best gift ever. (SARA RUNKE)Plus he taught her how to hunt and fish!
I LOVE YOU TERRY IM REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU!!!
I really miss you dad! I love you very much! You are in my thoughts every single second. Every time I think about you it, brings a smile to my face because I have so many wonderful and amazing memorizes of you! We will take good care of mom for you until she joins you in heaven so you guys can be together again! I will still talk to you as if you’re standing right next to me cause we still have a lot to talk about. I will see you in heaven when it’s my time!
Gail and Family,
Tonight I found that I had gotten an email from Lee about Terry’s passing. I am so sad for you and his kids and grandchildren. I will try to make the funeral.
Our prayers are with you.
Burt and Nan
I’m so sorry for the loss of Terry, the love of your life. He was a great husband, father, and grandpa. Know that I’m thinking of you. Let me know if I can help in any way. Joan
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this very difficult time. May God lift your heavy hearts and comfort you through this time.
I am so sorry to hear of Terry’s passing. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Terry was a good brother-in-law. You will be missed alot. I was looking forward to beating you in an honest game of cards.
We are so sorry for your loss. We are here for you if you need anything and praying for your healing. We love you, Jenni, Phil, Hunter, Hailey Hathaway
Real sorry to hear this news. That is a tough loss. He was a funny and very nice person who really loved the outdoors. I remember the time my Dad and I went bass fishing with him and Cody. He taught us so much just in a day. Seems like we still use the
strategies he taught us today. Fisherman who are willing to help others are the best kind in my book.
He will be missed. The memories and stories everyone has with him, will keep his legacy living on. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Sorry again for the loss,
Jason Anglin
Gail, I have no words to describe how sorry I am. I will never forget the times hunting and fishing with Terry. Talking about life and family, the pride he talked and showed me he had for you and the kids. That is what friends do. That is something I will never forget. Take care.
What a guy! Always in a good mood and laughing and having a good time. I got to play cards with him a few times and he enjoyed seeing Sara beat him at cards, as long as it was her and not me or Nick. Terry must have had a good memory to recall so many jokes and story’s. I can’t remember if I ever got a chance to go fishing with him, my loss. I was sure thinking I would be this summer. My wife, Sharon got such a kick out of how funny he was. He will be missed dearly by his family and all his friends. Lucille, I hope you know Nick and Sara will be there for you 24/7 to help you through this tough time, as will all your kids, friends and extended families.
Dear Gail and family; We were deeply saddened to hear of Terry’s death. It sounds like he was doing something he loved when it happened. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jim and Mary
Terry; You will be so missed at the Bratsch Family Gatherings! I loved that I could talk politics with you. Now what am I going to do without you. I bought a book for you to read that I thought you would like from a garage sale just the day before you died! Terry, even though we didn’t “hang out together” or hunt together, you were the BEST brother-in-law. We will always remember the times you and Gail (and some other family members) came to visit Lisa in the St. Cloud and Rochester Hospitals. Sometimes, you ended up cooling her forehead and holding a puke bowl. You (and Gail) were more than amazing! From what I have read, people who die, often see deceased people welcoming them into Heaven. I believe that Lisa had her arms out for you Terry!
God Bless Your Family! You will make it through this, and Gail you had a wonderful 38 years with a wonderful man, and were a good role model with your marriage!
As we prepare to say goodbye to my uncle Terry Runke today and tomorrow and celebrate his life, it has made me reflect on what’s important in life (and about what a great guy Terry was!). We need to put our family and friends first and don’t take them for granted. We’re going to miss seeing you at the next holiday or family picnic or wedding or bonfire or whatever comes up. And then we’ll miss your loud laugh, your jokes, the way you say our names, the competitive way you play games and make up excuses when they aren’t winning and the way you sing old country songs. You will be in our hearts always. We will cherish the memories that we made together. We’re going to miss you Terry! Sending lots of hugs to Gail, Sara, Sonia, Becky and Cody.
Our deepest condolences. He will be greatly missed.
Sending prayers your way to let you know someone cares for you. Let God help you along the way during this time.