At the somewhat overripe age of 84, Terry Lee Mesler of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away peacefully Thursday evening in the company of his wife Anna, three sons Dave, Steve, and Jeff, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Thrall Mesler. His final days were a true blessing, spending the last days being cared for by family at his home.

He married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Anna (née Vandebunte), on December 30, 1961, and together, they built a family and full life in Grand Rapids, after he proudly served four years in the United States Air Force.

His life, from beginning to end, could be described as classically American. A barely middle-class upbringing, five siblings, high school sports, four years of military service, a 65-year long marriage to his high school sweetheart, lifelong tradesman, avid fisherman, hunter, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and business owner. He checked all the boxes of a fantastically full life while keeping the important parts of that life at the top of his priorities, even when it was not easy.

As a lifelong member of the Reformed Church, Terry’s faith in Christ was the foundation of a full and meaningful life. That faith took root in childhood, when a neighbor first began bringing him to Sunday services at Pleasant Hill Chapel, which later became Fifth Reformed Church. From those early days on, his faith remained a steady and guiding force throughout his life, something that was especially evident during his final days surrounded by family.

Having lost his father Harold at age 6, there was a deeply ingrained self-reliance, which he passed along to his three sons. There wasn’t much he was afraid to take on. He always had a quiet devotion to the people he loved. Known as a man of few words, you might not have always heard it, but it didn’t take much to see the love and devotion he had for his family and friends.

That same self-reliance showed up in other ways in Terry’s life, usually in some sort of cabin build or gas-powered toy fix. As children, his three sons believed he could fix anything. He was a big fan of creating fun memories, and so many of those good times happened at self-built cabins on Big Star Lake and Drummond Island. His other loves usually revolved around travelling with Anna to somewhere warm like Aruba or New Smyrna Beach, or any events that involved his grandchildren. He rarely missed anything to do with any of them, especially if there was sport involved! And you didn’t dare stand in front of him and block his view of the game or you were gonna hear about it.

In his later years, his health woes took over, and some of that stoicism gave way to a heavier reliance on Anna, who never wavered in her commitment to him. Multiple bouts with cancer, COPD from years of smoking, and life-long back issues slowed him down. It didn’t stop him, however, from hopping on that electric cart for a lacrosse game or in the car for the annual winter escape to New Smyrna Beach.

Terry was preceded in death by his mother Juanita, his brothers Harold, Tom, Robert, and his sister Ruth. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anna; his three sons David, Steven (Carol Rava), and Jeffrey (Jennifer); his 11 grandchildren, Chelsea (Erik), Ethan, Jolee, Sebastian, Sophia, Ben, Nick, Maggie, Sam, Anna and Emmett: his Great Grandchildren, Luca and Brecken, and his brother Phil (Gail).

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 19th at Fifth Reformed Church, 2012 Griggs Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM, followed by the service at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will immediately follow the service.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests memorial gifts to Fifth Reformed Church Endowment Fund.