Terry A. Heese

Omaha _ Terry Alvin Heese, 75, of Omaha, formerly of Page and O'Neill, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

Visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at Braman Mortuary - Southwest Chapel in Omaha.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 at the mortuary in Omaha.

A private graveside service with military honors will be held at the Omaha National Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to The American Lung Association, Millard American Legion Post 374 or The Nebraska Walleye Association in Terry's name.

Terry was born in O'Neill on Sept. 19, 1948 to Gertrude and Alvin Heese. The family farmed near Page, before moving to O'Neill when he was in middle school. Terry was active in fishing, trapping, hunting and Explorer Scouts.

Shortly after high school graduation, Terry volunteered to enlist in the United States Navy. As a radio operator with top-secret clearance, he played a crucial role in the Vietnam War by relaying messages around the globe. His service included Survival Education Training at Camp LeJeune, being stationed on Guam, assignments aboard the USS Arlington from which President Nixon watched the Apollo 11 landing and the USS Sacramento in the West Pacific. Terry received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

On Dec. 27, 1969, Terry and VaReane Gray of O'Neill were married in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill. They made their home in Bremerton, WA. This is where their oldest son Kevin was born while Terry was serving on the USS Sacramento off the coast of Vietnam.

In 1970, he was honorably discharged and the family moved to Lincoln, where he worked at Goodyear before training as an optician with Bausch & Lomb. Their second son Christopher was born there. Eventually the family moved to Fond du Lac, WI with Bausch & Lomb, then to Omaha, where their youngest son Patrick was born. Terry continued his career as an optician and optical lab supervisor until retirement in 2013.

Terry, an adept angler with a deep passion for fishing, earned the title of master angler multiple times. In addition, he took pleasure in activities such as trap shooting, hunting, camping, boating, scuba diving and water skiing, often sharing his experiences and wisdom with family and friends. His fishing expeditions spanned: Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, California, Washington, Florida and Canada. 

Terry is survived by VaReane his wife of 54 years; his three sons Kevin (Kelly), Chris (Katina) and Patrick (Luke Pella); four grandchildren Hailey, Kira, Misa and Brodie; and three siblings Karen, Bob (Vicki) and Patty.

God grant that I may fish

Until my dying day.

When it comes to my last cast,

I, then, most humbly pray,

“When in the Lord's safe 

landing net

I'm peacefully asleep,

In his mercy, I'll be judged

Big enough to keep.

~ Unknown ~