Terry L. Day, 71, died on Thursday, July 16, 2020, at his home in Rochester.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Ellinger-Kunz and Park Funeral Home, located at 530 North Fifth Street, in Springfield. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 20, at 10 a.m. at the Church of St Jude in Rochester, with Rev. Charles Edwards and Rev. R. Dean Probst officiating. Burial will be at Rochester Cemetery. Masks must be worn during the visitation and mass. Ellinger-Kunz and Park Funeral Home in Springfield is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Day was born on Feb. 11, 1949, in Springfield, to Lewis E. and Mary L. Day. He married Donna Schwartz on June 14, 1969, at Little Flower Church in Springfield.
Mr. Day was employed at Capitol Airport beginning in 1978 as a fire/ police officer, and later at the Rochester Police Department. He graduated from Lincoln Land Community College in 1983.
Mr. Day’s passion was construction and he left his footprint at Day and Co. Inc, in many locations in the Rochester and Springfield area. He was one of a group who developed The Woodlands subdivision in Rochester. Mr. Day was an active member of the Springfield Area Home Builders Association serving as president in 2006, as well as a State Association Vice President in 2007 and 2008. He was awarded the designation of Remodeler of the Year in 2009 and Builder of the Year in 2010 by the Springfield Area Home Builders Association.
Mr. Day was one of the initial members of the Rochester Rescue Squad and a member of the Rochester Volunteer Fire Department later serving as a member of the Rochester Fire Board. He also served as a board member for the Village of Rochester.
Mr. Day was a member of St. Jude Church in Rochester, where he served on the Building and Finance Councils. Under the Day and Co. umbrella, he directed a Habitat for Humanity house on the north side of Springfield which was sponsored by St. Jude’s during Father Bill Carpenter’s tenure.
Mr. Day enjoyed nothing better than a St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game with family or friends, spending time in Marshall and family vacations with all the kids and grandkids along. He especially enjoyed sharing a popsicle on the beach and the 2014 trip to Washington D.C. , where he was able to share his interest in the history of the US with his grandchildren.
Mr. Day is survived by his wife; children, Janice (Mike) Fleming of Litchfield, Terry T. (Tammy) of Springfield, Timothy (Angie) of Rochester, and Amy (Ray Sharp) of Auburn; grandchildren, Greta, Ellen and Olivia Fleming of Litchfield, Faith and Andrew Day of Springfield, Alyse, Alyssa and Brock Day of Rochester, and Bradley, Jacob, Jenna, Justin and Jeffrey Sharp of Auburn; siblings, Bob (Margaret) Day, Gail Day, Randy (Sherry) Day and Karla (Brett) Klindworth.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Mary Day; and a granddaughter, Maria Esther Day.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of St. Jude, Rochester Fire and Rescue Squad or the Children’s Miracle Network. Condolences may be left online at www.parkfuneralhomesinc.com.
