Terry L. Pilar

Terry L. Pilar, age 65, of Moville, passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's-Downtown of Sioux City. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Moville with the Fr. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be at the Arlington Cemetery of Moville. A visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Moville. In honor of Terry's love for the Huskers and KC, the family invites guest to wear their jerseys or team colors to the visitation service.

Terry was born on December 27, 1960, in Creighton, Nebraska, to Larry and Merleen (Cook) Pilar. He was the 2nd of five children and enjoyed growing up on the farm outside of Verdigre, Nebraska. He graduated from Verdigre High School in 1979. By August of 1979, he had moved to Moville, IA, at the urging of his best friend, Curt. There he met the love of his life, Diane Koebel. On August 9, 1980, he and Diane married and made their home in Moville where they have lived ever since. They welcomed four children into their marriage along with many animals, eventually expanding their family further with two daughters-in-law and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his kids grow and cheered them on at all their activities. He carried this to his grandchildren and was always vocal and encouraging. He was a very proud husband,dad and grandpa. For almost 24 years, he worked at IDFI, Inc. as a welder, shop foreman and lastly a project estimator.

If you knew Terry, you knew his first love was for his family followed closely behind by the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His knowledge of all things Husker even earned him the nickname “Noogle” (Nebraska Google) by his family. Even though he left the farm at the age of 18, he would spend hours watching farming videos on YouTube proving you could take the boy out of the farm but not the farm out of the boy. For the last several years he got to spend time with his “boys” from home (Verdigre). They had countless trips to Bob’s Bar in Martinsburg and trips across the country to visit different college stadiums. The boys will tell you though “The trip was never about the game or the stadiums.” He also enjoyed Bob Ross videos, summers camping, fishing with his kids and later grandkids, and tractor pulls with his brother, Dean. But most of all, if he was with his wife and family, he was happy.

Left to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 45 years, Diane; his three children: Travis (Leslie) Pilar of Kearney, MO., Kimberly Pilar (Daniel Locke) of Sioux City, IA., Justin (Trisha) Pilar of Sergeant Bluff, IA.; four grandchildren: Zoey and Lincoln Pilar of Kearney, MO., and Alexander Edwards and Avery Pilar of Sergeant Bluff, IA.; four siblings: Dean (Traci) Pilar of Columbus, NE., Lori (Craig) Wagner of Creighton, NE., Shirleen (Mike) Wills of Greenville, SC., and David (Donna) Pilar of Lamar, SC.; in-laws: Daniel (Sharon Cooper) Koebel of Redmond, WA., Rosi (Ray) Klemmensen of Cedar Falls, IA., Kathy Myres of Moville, IA., David (Judi Gabel) Koebel of Omaha, NE., Linda Burke of Norwalk, IA., John (Kathy) Koebel of Sioux City, IA., and Bryan Jensen of Elgin, NE.; 27 nieces and nephews, many great and great-great nieces and nephews, cousins and many, many more friends.

Preceding him in death were his son, Nicholas; granddaughter, Madelyn; parents: Larry and Merleen Pilar; in-laws: Leo and Veronica Koebel; sisters-in-law: Trudi Koebel, Elaine Koebel, Paula Jensen; brother-in-law, Mark Burke; niece, Theresa Myres, as well as several aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to donate to a special cause to Terry: The Team Jack Foundation, a foundation dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric brain cancer. Team Jack Foundation