Terry Alan Burkett was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 8th, 1963 to Lavonne Burkett and James “Jim” Burkett. He spent his childhood moving around from Milwaukee to Illinois to Iowa and then finally Waverly, Minnesota where he attended Howard Lake Waverly Winsted High School. Here, he met his wife Judy (Mochinski) Burkett whom he was married to for forty-one years. They had three children and six grandchildren together.
Terry’s greatest joys in life were his family and sports. When his boys were younger, he coached their little league sports teams and when his daughter was a gymnast, he never missed a meet. You could always find him on the basketball court with his kids and all the neighborhood kids shooting hoops or teaching them how to pitch. His endless support did not stop after his kids were grown. He attended all his grandchildren’s events, even driving around the country to ensure he never missed an event. He also stayed actively involved in modified softball and was a member of a dart league. In his spare time, Terry could also be found on a boat fishing, in the casino with friends, or being mischievous and playing a prank on his friends and co-workers.
Aside from being a family man, Terry was known by most within the community for his work as a self-employed painter. He had worked as a painter for many years and started his own business in 1993 that he maintained until his cancer diagnosis.
Terry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and his Frenchie, Ace on February 6th, 2025 after a long battle with terminal brain cancer. He underwent every treatment option available, even an experimental treatment in hopes that he could help others in his position.
Terry is survived by his mother Lavonne; his wife Judy; his sisters: Bobbie, Lori, and Jodi, and his brother James; his children: Joshua (Jenny), Joseph (Leah), and Ashley (Bennett); grandchildren: Ethan, Bryce, Brayden, Alayna, Rosie, and James; and numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jim; his brother, Mark, and infant brother, Craig.
His Celebration of Life will be held at The Blue Note in Winsted, MN on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 4 PM to 7 PM.