Kevin E. Terpening, age 75, of rural Knoxville, Illinois, died on Monday, February 23, 2026 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois.
He was born on May 24, 1950 in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Kyle and Dorothy (Johnson) Terpening. He was raised in rural Kirkwood, Illinois and was a Yorkwood High School graduate of 1968. He married Nancy Engstrom on September 11, 1982 at the First Lutheran Church in Monmouth, Illinois.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy of rural Knoxville, Illinois; two sons: Karl E. (Bailey) Terpening of Knoxville, Illinois and Paul T. (Kaylin) Terpening of Dahinda, Illinois; one grandson, Klyde E. Terpening of Knoxville, Illinois; one brother, Dennis (Becky) Terpening of Kirkwood, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, and many a good dog.
He farmed all of his life, starting in Warren County, before finally settling in rural Knoxville, Illinois. He also worked for Nutrien Ag for many years. He was involved in the Kirkwood Masonic Lodge, Warren and Knox Counties 4-H, Kirkwood FFA, Knox County Farm Bureau where he served as a board member for many years, Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader in Knoxville and Gilson. He was a member of the Spoon River Antique Agriculture Association, the Maple City Tractor Club, and Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, where he served on the church council.
His hobbies included farming, fishing, and tractors (unless it was a red one). He loved anything to do with farming and the agricultural world in general (except for horses which he called hay burners). This distaste of the equine species could have stemmed from having a pony as a boy that whenever it was in sight of the barn, would take off like a shot, making sure to take a short detour under the clothes lines on the way, in an effort to unseat its unsuspecting rider.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2026, with Masonic Services at 7 p.m. at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes and Crematory in Knoxville, Illinois. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the funeral home, with Vicar Nathaniel Knutson officiating. Burial will be in the Knoxville Cemetery, Knoxville, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Knoxville FFA or the Knoxville Illinois Fire Department.
