Walter Henry "Terry" Miescher Iii
October 8, 1945 — July 13, 2023
Deacon Walter Henry “Terry” Miescher, III, of Neal, died on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at his home near Neal, at the age of 77.
He was born on October 8, 1945, in Portland, Oregon, the son of Walter Henry, II and Frances “Fran” (Roberson) Miescher. His father was serving in the military during Terry’s early life and so they lived all around the world but most of his early life was spent in Germany. He completed high school in Fort Knox, Kentucky and later attended Arizona State University, completing a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.
He volunteered for VISTA and later the Peace Corp where he did work in Brazil. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in Vietnam flying and repairing all kinds of aircraft. After his discharge he began working for Bell Helicopter International in Iran. In 1979, Terry and two of his daughters, who were babies at the time, fled Iran with many other Americans at the start of the Iranian Revolution. He would recall shielding their small bodies from the gunfire as they were evacuated by helicopter.
The family later settled in Wichita where he began working for Beech Aircraft as a pilot, mechanic, and teacher. On July 21, 1990, Terry was united in marriage to Cheryl Lee (Hesselgrave) Gunter in Wichita. They made their home in Wichita where their families were united as one. Terry spent 28 years at Beech before retiring. Though he was still an instructor at the National Center for Aviation Training for another five years afterwards.
In 1994, Terry was ordained in the Episcopal Church as a deacon after completing seminary at the Kansas School of Ministry. He was appointed Deacon of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Wichita, a post he held until his death. In the mid-2010’s he and Cheryl retired to Neal.
He was a member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a past member of Parents without Partners.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of the home; four children: Robert John Gunter of Winfield; Jennifer Joysclind Miescher-Vandevrugt of Wrightwood, California; Misty Marie Meier of Baldwin; and Jessica Rae Miescher-Lerner of Lawrence; seven grandchildren; and three siblings: Karen Bitters of Wauconda, Illinois; Denni Lyle of Phoenix, Arizona; and Robin Miescher of Tucson, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Koup Family Funeral Home, Eureka with Mother Liz Gomes of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church officiating. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, in Wichita with Bishop Cathleen Bascom of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas officiating. Cremation has been effected. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church or to Episcopal Social Services. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
He was born on October 8, 1945, in Portland, Oregon, the son of Walter Henry, II and Frances “Fran” (Roberson) Miescher. His father was serving in the military during Terry’s early life and so they lived all around the world but most of his early life was spent in Germany. He completed high school in Fort Knox, Kentucky and later attended Arizona State University, completing a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.
He volunteered for VISTA and later the Peace Corp where he did work in Brazil. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in Vietnam flying and repairing all kinds of aircraft. After his discharge he began working for Bell Helicopter International in Iran. In 1979, Terry and two of his daughters, who were babies at the time, fled Iran with many other Americans at the start of the Iranian Revolution. He would recall shielding their small bodies from the gunfire as they were evacuated by helicopter.
The family later settled in Wichita where he began working for Beech Aircraft as a pilot, mechanic, and teacher. On July 21, 1990, Terry was united in marriage to Cheryl Lee (Hesselgrave) Gunter in Wichita. They made their home in Wichita where their families were united as one. Terry spent 28 years at Beech before retiring. Though he was still an instructor at the National Center for Aviation Training for another five years afterwards.
In 1994, Terry was ordained in the Episcopal Church as a deacon after completing seminary at the Kansas School of Ministry. He was appointed Deacon of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Wichita, a post he held until his death. In the mid-2010’s he and Cheryl retired to Neal.
He was a member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a past member of Parents without Partners.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of the home; four children: Robert John Gunter of Winfield; Jennifer Joysclind Miescher-Vandevrugt of Wrightwood, California; Misty Marie Meier of Baldwin; and Jessica Rae Miescher-Lerner of Lawrence; seven grandchildren; and three siblings: Karen Bitters of Wauconda, Illinois; Denni Lyle of Phoenix, Arizona; and Robin Miescher of Tucson, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Koup Family Funeral Home, Eureka with Mother Liz Gomes of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church officiating. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, in Wichita with Bishop Cathleen Bascom of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas officiating. Cremation has been effected. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church or to Episcopal Social Services. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
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