Terrilyn Vander Gaast

A Memorial Service for Terrilyn Vander Gaast, age 78, of Everly will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 1:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly. Inurnment will be at Little Sioux Lutheran Cemetery in Milford. Visitation will take place on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 5:00-7:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly.

Terrilyn (Terri) Faye Hankins Vander Gaast was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Relatives say she was a spirited woman with a contagious laugh. Terri was always ready for an adventure and loved having fun.

Terri was born on July 4, 1945 to Irene Kehoe. She was a firecracker from the day that she was born. At the age of 3, she was adopted by relatives, Orville and Alice (Kehoe) Hankins. Terri grew up and was baptized in the Lutheran faith. During her life she lived in Sibley (IA), Milford (IA), Avoca (MN), and Cloverdale (IA) before moving to Everly, Iowa.

Terri graduated from Sibley High School in 1963. Terri met Bill VanderGaast at a skating rink and they started dating. They were married on February 6, 1966 and celebrated 59 years of marriage this year. Terri and Bill settled on an acreage just outside of Everly, Iowa where they raised 4 children and a menagerie of animals.

Terri earned her cosmetology and hairstyling license from Larson's School of Cosmetology in 1965. She ran a small beauty shop on Main Street in Everly and then one in their home for a few years. She began working as a hairstylist in Northshire and Longhouse Nursing Homes in 1978 until her retirement. Terri enjoyed crocheting, quilting, reading, dogs, and spending time with family and friends. She was much loved and will be dearly missed.

Terri passed away on March 23, 2024. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, and grandson, Josh Jetton.

Her surviving relatives are husband, Bill VanderGaast and children Randal and Deborah VanderGaast (Tiption, IA), Regina Girard (Seattle, WA), Pamela Baracho (Houston, TX), Amanda (Cleo) and Suresh Prabhakaran (Carmel, IN). Her surviving grandchildren are: Bran and Ashelie VanderGaast, Tyler VanderGaast and her partner, Jackson, Kethra and Conner VanderGaast Johnson, Corrine, Meghan VanderGaast, Jessica and Jesse Ford, Ezra Girard, Jade Girard, Talliana Baracho, Adam Baracho, Kadence Baracho, and Maya Prabhakaran. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren.