Terry Nelson

Terry Nelson, 60, of Hartville, passed away peacefully on Feb. 27, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, surrounded by family. Terry was born on Sep. 27, 1965, in Wisconsin and moved to Missouri as a child. He graduated from Hartville High School in 1984, where he was recognized as an outstanding baseball player. After high school, he spent much of his time hunting, trapping, and fishing—later in life, he enjoyed days at home shooting squirrels in the backyard with his dog Bo Dean, fishing at the dam, and spending time with his grandchildren. Terry dedicated 37 years to Marathon Electric, earning the respect of his colleagues for his strong work ethic, reliability and honest perspective. He retired in 2024, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and dependability. A loving father and grandpa, Terry cherished his two sons, Derek and Dustin. Derek, and his longtime girlfriend, Ashleen, share three children,Braylee, Memphis and Kyley. Dustin and his wife, Gabrielle, have three children—Eastin, Jagneaux and Willow. Being a grandpa brought him great joy, whether teaching his grandchildren to fish, taking them hunting, playing poker, playing cornhole, or playing wiffleball in the backyard.
He is also survived by three sisters, Delin Beyer and her husband, Tony, of Arkansas; Gwyn Dugger and her husband, Donald, of Utah; and Sheryl Vandergrift, of Hartville. He is also survived by two bonus sons, John Gorman, of  Marshfield, and Kyle Gorman, of Hartville. Terry was preceded in death by his mother, Vina Bass, and sister, Jackie Mings. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, extended family members and close friends who will deeply miss him. Terry will be remembered for his quiet strength, love of family and deep appreciation for the outdoors. Though he has taken his final walk through the woods and made his last cast at the dam, his legacy lives on in the lessons he shared, the traditions he passed down, and the memories treasured by all who knew him. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 14, at the Hartville School, from 2-4 p.m.