Terrance L. Priestap

Terrance L. Priestap, age 73, of Sylvania, Ohio passed away peacefully on May 1, 2015 and went home to be with the Lord he loved, surrounded by his entire family, after a seventeen year battle with cancer. Terry’s whole life was characterized by a steadfast devotion to his Christian faith.  From his early twenties  until the very end of his life he was involved in Christian ministries.  Perhaps the first of such ministries was on the Walpole Island Indian reservation in Michigan, where he worked with children.  Terry also started a weekly Bible study in Toledo in 1976 for a group of fellow employees at Owens Corning  Fiberglas that is continuing  to this day.  In the mid-eighties he started an annual youth camp in northern Michigan that continued for a decade, and followed that with a marriage ministry with The Navigators in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  In 2000, Terry became the pastor at the Christian Fellowship Church in Holland, Ohio, a position he held full time until 2010, when his health forced him to cut back.  Still, he continued being a pastor, shepherd and mentor to many.  He was known throughout the United States and Canada by many for his spirit of Christian shepherding, for his enormous heart for people, and for leading many to a personal relationship with Christ. Terry was born in 1941 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to Inez and Edward Robinson.  Terry’s father died when Terry was very young, and Inez remarried,  to a dashing World War II veteran named Thomas Priestap, who adopted Terry and was his Dad for the rest of his life.  Terry had two brothers, James and Jon, and a sister Kristine, all of whom have survived him.  He graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Michigan, where he excelled in varsity basketball, and later attended Oakland University in Michigan for four years.  Terry married Jean Meyers in 1963, and they had four children, Karin, Stephen, Kristina, and Mark.  Jean was his lifelong partner in all of his ministries and his best friend.  At the end of Terry’s life, Jean was his tireless and devoted caregiver. In 1968 Terry went to work for Owens Corning Fiberglas and worked for OCF until his retirement in 1998.  Terry was always proud of the company he worked for, and held a variety of positions there in the credit department, the marketing department, and finally in the finance department.  When he retired in 1998, he had risen to the position of Director of Corporate Finance, where he oversaw Owens Corning’s pension investments.  That job took him many places, including Europe, China, and Washington DC, where he helped in lobbying efforts with U.S. senators and congressmen.   After retirement in 1998, Terry continued to work as a consultant for OCF until 2003 in the Treasury department, until ministry finally became his full time focus.  He loved Owens Corning, though, and always kept a Pink Panther in his study. In 2007, Terry and Jean became active in international ministries with Advancing Native Missions, and travelled to Kenya, China, Indonesia, Honduras, and other countries.  His life, work, and service for the Lord impacted thousands of people, and will continue impacting them for years to come. He is survived by his loving wife Jean;  children, Karin (Jeff) Prunty; Stephen (Kimberlee), Kristina Hendricks;  Mark (Meredith) Priestap;  by his brothers  James Robinson and Jon Priestap, and sister Kristine (Ray) Lepine;  and by twenty-five grandchildren, all of whom loved him dearly. Visitation will be Friday, May 8, from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Avenue (west of Corey Rd.).  On Saturday, May 9, a Memorial Celebration of his life at 11:00 am will be held at Christian Fellowship Church, 6711 Pilliod Road, Holland, Ohio, with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Advancing Native Missions, P.O. Box 5303, Charlottesville, VA  22905 or Christian Fellowship Church.  Condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.