Obituary of Terrence Maurice Greenleaf

Terrence Maurice Greenleaf, age 75 ,of Whitewater, WI passed away on Friday, March 16, 2012 at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Facility in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. While we will be missing a great person down here on Earth, up in Heaven they will surely be rejoicing. Dad's personality and ability to tell a story just right will never be matched. He makes everyone feel like they are the most special person in the world. He has an uncanny ability to make any situation, no matter how grim it may be, seem like everything will be alright. Dad also possesses the gift of really thinking a situation over before engaging in it, rather that just jumping head first right in. His smile though...his smile can just light up a room. Even right up towards the end, he was able to flash that smile that makes even the biggest of scrooges able to go about their day with a better feeling about themselves. Terrence was born on August 9, 1936, the son of Michael and Evelyn ( Smith ) Greenleaf. He grew up in Dollar Bay, Michigan where he lived with his mother and father and was the oldest of 9 children. He graduated from Dollar Bay High School in 1954 where he lettered in track and basketball. His hook shot, which was nearly unstoppable, drew interest from college teams, prompting UW-Stout to offer him a scholarship to play hoops. He was unable to attend due to family circumstances, but the fact that there was such an offer at that time was remarkable. This is the kind of person he is... he always puts his family first before his own personal needs and goals! While attending DBHS, something else happened to dad...he met a certain young woman named Patricia Primeau. We simply know her as mom! They would eventually marry in 1958. Dad became a grocery store guy. They moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he became a manager at Red Owl on East Washington Avenue. From there, they moved to Whitewater when he became manager of the A & P in Janesville. Eventually, he settled in on being the manager of the A & P, then Super Value in Whitewater. In the early 80's, dad became a Beltone Hearing Aid Specialist, with offices in Whitewater, Delavan, and New Berlin. He retired from Beltone in 2009. They lived in Whitewater until their passing. Dad enjoyed many things in life. He enjoyed watching his children's and grandchildren's sporting events, he enjoyed watching the Packers and Badgers, but most of all, he enjoyed just spending time with his family at home. He loved to grill out in the summertime and having his family or friends there to enjoy all the brats or hamburgers they could possible eat. The fall rides he would take with mom and the many, many family vacations we went on over the years could never ever be forgotten. He enjoyed his life...simple as it was. He wouldn't have had it any other way. Dad was a very active member of the Kiwanis and the Knight of Columbus where he tried to make a difference on everything he was involved in, including his wonderful pancake making skills at Kiwanis pancake day. We cannot even imagine how many lives, besides our own, that he has touched or made a difference with. People came first to him...a quality seen very rarely these days. We mourn the passing of a terrific son, a giving and loving father, an irreplaceable grandfather, a blessed brother, and most important...a generous and caring person! We love you dad! He is survived by his three sons: Timothy (Sue) Greenleaf, Arizona, Scott (Nicohle Rumsey) Greenleaf, Whitewater, WI and Sean (Melanie) Greenleaf, Janesville, WI, and his grandchildren: Ross (Jenni), Nathan, Katherine, Jordan, Brielle, Tyler, and Blake. Terrence was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patricia, and sisters: Therese Blissett and Pamela Steinacker. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1225 W. Main Street, Whitewater,WI with Father Thomas Perrin celebrating. Friends may call after 10AM on Saturday at the church until the mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to the American Diabetes Association or to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Whitewater, WI. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, Wisconsin is assisting the family.