Terry C. Wells
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Memorial services for Terry C. Wells, 77, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, Kansas. Reverend Randy Weinkauf will officiate. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A private inurnment will be held at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas, at a later date. Terry passed away at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Sunday, June 23, 2024, with his wife of 44 years at his bedside.
Terry was born on June 25, 1946 in Atchison, Kansas to Lohman C. “Bill” and Marjorie M. Wells. He attended Atchison public schools and graduated from Atchison High School in 1964. Terry also graduated from Pittsburg State University with both a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Administration.
During his thirty-four-year career as a teacher of English and coach, Mr. Wells taught at Horton High School, Horton, Kansas, Maur Hill Prep School, Atchison, Kansas, De Soto High School, De Soto, Kansas, and Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kansas. His teaching ranged from Basic English to Writing for the College Bound, and at various times he coached football, boys and girls basketball, and boys and girls track.
Terry married Joan Lundstrom Wells on July 14, 1979 in Atchison, Kansas. She survives of the home with their Goldendoodle, Ginger.
Terry was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas.
Terry’s family would like to thank the staff of Homestead of Eudora Assisted Living for their kindness, care, and support during the last eight months.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Terry’s name to Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas. Donations should be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 West 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
For more information or to post a condolence, go to warrenmcelwain.com.
Pleas sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Coach Terry Wells. H was my football coach at Horton High School. I would ocassionally run into him in Lawrence where I also live. He arranged and cooked for the Ramirez family at a Lawrence High vs Topeka High basketball game when we had two cousins opposing each other on the court, very much appreciated that gesture. RIP Coach.
Coach Wells touched many lives while teaching and coaching. I was also a lucky one to have shared his coaching experience in the ‘70s. He also taught my children at Lawrence High. He made people smile where ever he went. T will be missed by many. God be with the family.
I fondly think of Mr. Wells every time I use a semicolon. I am sorry for his passing.
Mr. Wells was an excellent English teacher, and he greatly impacted my education. I loved that he wrote hall passes on the reverse side of Far Side comics. Thank you, Mr. Wells!
So sorry, Joanie, to learn of Terry’s death. I am thinking of you with great fondness.
So sorry to hear of your loss Coach Joan Wells. Will be praying for comfort and peace for the Wells family.
So sorry Joanie to hear of your husband’s passing. I have fond memories of Atchison and wonderful times with you. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Suzi Moorhead Ross
I did not meet Terry until he had retired from teaching and coaching. I was lucky enough to have him as my bailiff for many years. Terry was always very professional. He absorbed everything that was happening during a trial and after the verdict he would ask questions about why things happened as they did, both as to attorneys’ strategy and the rule of law. He had such a curious, keen mind. It was always fun when there was a former student on the jury. They all admired him.
Joannie, both you and T will be remembered by many, many former Lawrence High School students for the positive ways you each shaped their young lives into who they became as adults. Although I didn’t have occasion to meet Terry until relatively recently, it was evident that the two of you had a loving, caring marriage and life together, even though each of you had your own way of interacting and communicating with others. Prayers continue for you in his absence, with my sincere sympathy.
Joan, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I didn’t have the chance to get to know Terry well, but I did know he was funny, enjoyed teaching and coaching, and that you both shared a wonderful life together. You are in my thoughts and prayers for peace.
Mr./Coach Wells was my English & writing teacher and O-Line/D-Line Coach at Maur Hill Prep (1975-78). Not only did we learn English. He taught us important things like how to tie a necktie, how dress properly for occasions and the proper position to take when escorting a woman down the road or pulling a chair out for the lady, etc. I myself ended up being a teacher, Physical Education and Health for 29 years. I coached many sports including football where I coached/taught my team like he coached me.
He was one of my favorite teachers and a wonderful coach. He not only taught the subject matter but how to be a proper and upstanding young man, lessons I still adhere to in my life. He was a great role model and mentor. God bless you Mr. Wells!!
Terry was asst basketball coach at Maur Hill and was a good combination of tough and supportive. I got a little too uppity in practice one day and he flew off the sidelines, tackled me, sat on my chest and delivered a strong, one sentence lecture. The next day I knew my place and he was fair and supportive of me as a player and we went on like it never happened…but I respected him all the more and it was a great teaching moment for a group of young men.
Joan, I’m sorry for your loss and appreciate you putting the photo montage together. It is great to see him in his element with family and friends.
I really liked playing sports for coach Wells. He was tough but very fair. He would praise immediately when you did the right thing.
It didn’t matter if it was in the classroom or on the field – tough but fair was always a constant. The little twinkle in his eye was always an indication that he knew we were all here to enjoy ourselves, it wasn’t always about work…
Freshman year he gave me the nickname Dog. Not because of my looks or tenaciousness, but rather something of a predisposition to not giving my best effort on an English assignment or finishing a football play. His mentoring had a big impact on me.
My lifetime ability to produce quality outcomes for my family, my community and employers – all are rooted in the many lessons learned from him. I am truly blessed by the four years we shared. God Bless Joanie.
I am devastated to learn of Mr. Wells’ passing just as I was Goggling him to try to reconnect. He was the most foundational adult presence in my high school life. He had the most amazing way of expressing fondness throughout sarcasm. My kids still call me Toilet Monitor on occasion after I told them how Mr. Wells once did an etymology of my name, “john” being a toilet and “proctor” being a monitor. Mrs. Wells, I’m sending out my deepest condolences. He was a great man, and I regret not seeing him again before his passing.
He will be missed by his family