Terrence “Terry” Jul Bosch, 71 of Ely, Minnesota passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous hard-fought battle with cancer.
Terry was born in Bismarck, ND on Sept. 8, 1952, to Valentine “Val” and Clare (Gartner) Bosch. He grew up in Devils Lake, ND, the oldest of six children and the only boy. Terry graduated high school from St. Mary’s Academy in 1970 and went on to earn an Electronic Technologies Degree from Wahpeton State School of Science in 1972. A few years later, Terry began his career at the phone company where he met his best friend, the love of his life, Joni. They married in 1979 and went on to have four beautiful children.
In 1987, Terry accepted a manager position for Contel Communications in Ely, Minnesota. They packed up their four young children, the youngest being Dan, who was 11-days old and moved across the state of MN to their forever home. Terry and Joni spent the next chapter of their lives raising their children and supporting their every endeavor by attending all the baseball, softball, volleyball, and hockey games they could. Terry inherited his love of cooking from his Dad and it became one of his biggest passions. He was always grilling or smoking some type of meat on the deck, listening to his favorite playlist and having a Genuine Draft. He also passed on his love of hunting and fishing to his children. A day on the lake was the best day ever. While his daughters also inherited his love of fishing, it was his son Dan who caught the “Fishing Bug” the worst. They would spend many hours in the boat and on the ice chasing after the Big One, the memories they made are priceless. Trips made back to Devils Lake hunting and fishing were some of his greatest joys.
Terry and Joni purchased their “glamper” when he retired. It was their dream to have a place on the lake, but their traveling cabin was the next best thing. Terry, Joni, and Terry’s “little buddy,” Murphy made the most of the next few years as they traveled back to North Dakota to visit family, went to spend time with their children, or just parked the RV at the closest campground and enjoyed a beautiful weekend in the woods in each other’s company. If you had asked him, he would have told you he wouldn’t have traded this life for anything.
There was nothing Terry valued more in life than his family, children, grandchildren and friends. He with Joni always by his side loved spending their life together sitting by a bonfire, gardening watching his tomatoes grow, watching the Fighting Sioux or Wild play hockey or simply playing a game of strategy against one another. He never lost touch with his phone company family. His greatest friendships were made during his time working there. He looked forward to all the out of the blue phone calls he would get from his guys. Terry loved his sisters, he cherished the phone calls and daily texts they sent, all the jokes and reminiscing. He loved his daily walks around the neighborhood with Murph, visiting with neighbors Nick, Dave, Kathy and many more. His mother, Clare, who passed away suddenly when he was 24, always had a very special place in his heart. His kindness, loving spirit, sense of humor and strength came from her. Terry fought hard up to the very end, he was so loved, we will miss him more than the world could ever know.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Valentine and Clare Bosch, his father-in-law, Marvin Schwab, and his brothers-in-law Rodney Adahl and Frank LaRoque and special friend Jim Proulx. Terry is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Joni (Schwab) Bosch, their four children, Kelly (George) Rajkovich and their children, Autum, Layla, and Addison; Jami (Robert) Stepec and their children Cole and Jace; Casey (Mike) Vieau and their children Emma, Scarlett, Brian, and Clare; Dan (Kelsey Velcheff) Bosch; his sisters Valerie LaRocque, Deb (Dale) Sedlezky, Pam (Mark) Anderson, Sandy (Randy) Weishaar, Kathy (Jeff) Miller, mother-in-law Dolores (Heit) Schwab, his sisters-in-law, Kristi (Doug) Vang, Shirley (Steve) Brock, Debbie Adahl, and Julie (Vern Church) Schwab and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Church in Ely, Minnesota on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
A special heartfelt thank you to the many people who cared for Terry along his journey. Dr. Jim Montana, Dr. Dan Nikcevich, Dr. Keith Peterson, the staff of EBCH and VRMC, the Ely and Babbitt Ambulance, Doug for his bi-weekly calls and post cards; Heidi Artisensi; Adam Borchert who was always here to help transport Terry, all the Essentia East Range Hospice nurses who made it possible for Terry to stay home with us and Jo, who made the last 8 weeks sparkle a little brighter.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
