Local Veteran Earl Terpstra to Be Laid to Rest at Arlington National Cemetery

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Earl Terpstra, a former federal engineer and U.S. Army veteran with ties to Washington, Indiana, will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, one of the nation's highest honors for military service members. Terpstra served in Europe with Army Special Troops and later had a career with the Soil Conservation Service, holding positions in several states including Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most prestigious final resting places for U.S. military members, with over 400,000 graves. Interment at Arlington is considered one of the highest honors for those who have served their country.

The details

Terpstra was born on a farm near Moline, Michigan in 1933. After his military service, he began a career with the Soil Conservation Service, with his first assignment as an engineer on the Prairie Creek Watershed project in Washington, Indiana, where he met his future wife Judy. The couple married in 1959. Throughout his career, Terpstra held positions in several states before serving 20 years in Washington, D.C., including as a Congressional Fellow and in the Executive Office of the President. After retiring, Terpstra and his wife returned to southern Indiana, where he enjoyed farming, helping local farmers, and collecting farm tractors and memorabilia.

• Earl Terpstra was born on May 13, 1933.
• Terpstra married his wife Judy in 1959.
• Terpstra served 20 years in Washington, D.C. before retiring.
• Terpstra was inducted into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame in 2013.
• Private services will be held, with burial at Arlington National Cemetery.