Terry Johnston
December 31, 1969 — October 6, 2021
Terry A. Johnston, 78, of Webster City died Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Private family graveside services will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Foster Funeral & Cremation Center is entrusted with the services.
Terry Allen Johnston was born December 5, 1942 in Webster City, the son of Jean and Dorothy (Bermann) Johnston. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. He attended Junior College and then Iowa State University. On January 4, 1964 Terry was united in marriage to Gloria Ann Hess.
He joined the fire department as a volunteer firefighter in Nov. 1964 and became fulltime on January 1, 1966. He progressed through the ranks of Lieutenant and Assistant Chief. On June 21, 1976 Terry was appointed as Chief of the Webster City Fire Department until his retirement on January 1, 1998. He was the longest serving Fire Chief in the city’s history. Terry authored and published the book, “From Buckets to Diesels” about the first century of our fire department. He served as secretary of the Iowa Association of Professional Fire Chiefs for 15 years and was member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. In 1992, Terry developed a countywide Public Safety vehicle numbering system for then Sheriff Scott Anderson. After his retirement he continued to serve as Hamilton County Emergency Management Coordinator, retiring from this job February 25, 2011. He was a member of the Iowa Association of Emergency Management Coordinators, a founding member and Vice Chairman of the Region 5 Emergency Planning Committee, and a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Commission from 1993 to 2011. In July 2012, Terry and retired chief, Tom Strait, from Ankeny started and co-chaired the “Retired Professional Fire Chiefs” who met twice yearly to keep up with the profession.
Terry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; sons, Todd (Linda) Johnston of Milo, Jarrod (Kristin) Johnston of Boone, NC; grandchildren, Trace, Maya, Lainey; sister, Diane Johnston of Milo and brother, Don (Donna) Johnston of Idaho Falls, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In his spare time, Terry enjoyed cycling, both bicycles and motorcycles for 30 years. He and Gloria rode their bikes across Iowa on RAGBRAI for many summers. Spending time with their sons, Todd and Jarrod and their families were the most important part of their lives. He enjoyed helping Todd with his girls’ softball teams each summer and they looked forward to visiting Jarrod and his family in North Carolina. Terry enjoyed his morning coffee group, chatting with neighbors strolling by as he sat outside his home on summer evenings, working in his yard and going to Late Model car races for many years with several racing buddies. Terry and Gloria belonged to the Ames Corvette Club where they showed their 1962 Corvette convertible.
Terry Allen Johnston was born December 5, 1942 in Webster City, the son of Jean and Dorothy (Bermann) Johnston. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. He attended Junior College and then Iowa State University. On January 4, 1964 Terry was united in marriage to Gloria Ann Hess.
He joined the fire department as a volunteer firefighter in Nov. 1964 and became fulltime on January 1, 1966. He progressed through the ranks of Lieutenant and Assistant Chief. On June 21, 1976 Terry was appointed as Chief of the Webster City Fire Department until his retirement on January 1, 1998. He was the longest serving Fire Chief in the city’s history. Terry authored and published the book, “From Buckets to Diesels” about the first century of our fire department. He served as secretary of the Iowa Association of Professional Fire Chiefs for 15 years and was member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. In 1992, Terry developed a countywide Public Safety vehicle numbering system for then Sheriff Scott Anderson. After his retirement he continued to serve as Hamilton County Emergency Management Coordinator, retiring from this job February 25, 2011. He was a member of the Iowa Association of Emergency Management Coordinators, a founding member and Vice Chairman of the Region 5 Emergency Planning Committee, and a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Commission from 1993 to 2011. In July 2012, Terry and retired chief, Tom Strait, from Ankeny started and co-chaired the “Retired Professional Fire Chiefs” who met twice yearly to keep up with the profession.
Terry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; sons, Todd (Linda) Johnston of Milo, Jarrod (Kristin) Johnston of Boone, NC; grandchildren, Trace, Maya, Lainey; sister, Diane Johnston of Milo and brother, Don (Donna) Johnston of Idaho Falls, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In his spare time, Terry enjoyed cycling, both bicycles and motorcycles for 30 years. He and Gloria rode their bikes across Iowa on RAGBRAI for many summers. Spending time with their sons, Todd and Jarrod and their families were the most important part of their lives. He enjoyed helping Todd with his girls’ softball teams each summer and they looked forward to visiting Jarrod and his family in North Carolina. Terry enjoyed his morning coffee group, chatting with neighbors strolling by as he sat outside his home on summer evenings, working in his yard and going to Late Model car races for many years with several racing buddies. Terry and Gloria belonged to the Ames Corvette Club where they showed their 1962 Corvette convertible.
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