Lt. Col. Terry E. Spitzer

[ironputts]

February 26, 2026

Lt. Col. Terry E. Spitzer
Iowa Wing
IA-000

Terry Eugene Spitzer, 91, passed away on January 21, 2026, at his home in Kalona, Iowa, after a year-long battle with Amyloidosis.

Terry was born on September 8, 1934, in Hagerstown, Maryland, the son of Lee F. and Elsie R. (Hager) Spitzer. His family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he graduated from Flower Bluff High School. Terry attended McPherson College in Kansas for two years. He then served in the United States Army Airborne from 1954 until 1955. Terry worked in the printing business in the Chicago area until moving to Kalona, Iowa, in 1959.

On June 4, 1960, Terry married Delores J. Yoder at the English River Church of the Brethren near South English where they were both members and Deacons. Terry and Delores were blessed with four sons: Anthony, Bruce, Craig, and David. You may notice that their children's names begin with the alphabet A, B, C, and D. Terry and Delores always said that E was for End. Terry worked at several printers in Iowa City before purchasing Kalona Graphics in 1976 which he ran for 21 years, the last 14 of which were in partnership with his son, Anthony. Terry retired from the printing business in 1997. He was a founding member of the Kalona First Responders and served as an EMT/Paramedic for Washington County Ambulance for many years. He was a charter member of the Kalona Lions Club. Terry was the pool manager and lifeguard at the Kalona swimming pool for several years and worked in security at the Riverside Casino for nearly 10 years from the time it first opened. Terry's quest for new knowledge and a new challenge continued into his later years when he studied and became a Pharmacy Technician at nearly 80 years old. Because he loved being around people, he continued to work full time until he became ill when he was 90.

His passion for aviation started early and culminated when he built the Kalona Air Park west of Kalona in 1968 and operated Kalona Flying Service teaching dozens of people the joy of flying – as his slogan said "Learn to Fly – It's Fun!" - until 2024. He was a private pilot, commercial pilot, and flight instructor. Being awarded the Wright Brothers award for 50+ years of dedicated service in aviation safety in 2015 was a milestone in his aviation career. Terry enjoyed restoring airplanes and especially enjoyed his Piper Cub. He was also active in the Civil Air Patrol where he achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was active with the Kalona area Boy Scouts, Troop 234, including taking young men to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and sponsoring an Explorer troop with a focus on aviation. Terry's love of history and antiques carried into cars as well and his most prized auto was his 1910 Ford Model T. He loved driving his red Chrysler convertible with the top down every chance he got.

Survivors include four sons: Anthony (Diane Van Hoozer) Spitzer of Kalona; Bruce Spitzer of Aurora, Illinois; Craig (Bill Aasberg) Spitzer of Kalona and David Spitzer of Milan, Illinois; four grandchildren: Cody Spitzer, Jesse (Becky) Spitzer, Travis (Teresa) Hartley, and Sheena Hartley; five great grandchildren: Mason, Braden, Sage, Aviana and Stella; sisters Joan Gould of

Sarasota, Florida; and Jeri Roberts of Corpus Christi, Texas; and sister-in-law Margaret Spitzer of Corpus Christi, Texas. Terry was preceded in death by his parents; wife Delores in 1997; two brothers: Earl (Janice) Spitzer and Howard Spitzer; and mother-in-law Emma Yoder.