Terrence A. “Terry” Fort, 64, of Rochester, Minn., and formerly of Rushford, Minn., died on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at Mayo Clinic St. Marys Campus in Rochester.
Terry was born on May 17, 1953, in La Crosse, Wis., to Donald and Marilyn (Pittelko) Fort. He was raised in the Money Creek, Minn., area, and was a 1971 graduate of Rushford High School. He graduated with an Associate Degree in horticulture from the University of Minnesota, Waseca in 1973. After college, Terry worked in the career field of horticulture. Through his career he worked at Wedge Nursery in Albert Lea, Minn., College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minn., and at a greenhouse in Missouri. At a young age, Terry was diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia, a progressively debilitating genetic disorder which he battled for nearly all his life. He was active in the FFA and 4-H in his formative years and had earned awards through the FFA for his knowledge in horticulture. He was a member of Rochester Baptist Church.
He is survived by four siblings: Wesley Fort of Houston, Minn., Lewis (Dorothy) Fort of Dodge Center, Minn., Lori Wenzel of Rosemount, Minn., and Donna Fort of Plano, Tex.; several nieces and nephews, and by two significant caregivers in his life: Gloria Brower and Jennifer Mitchell.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two nephews.
There will be a funeral service for Terry at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in St. Charles, Minn., with The Reverend Donald Noonan from Rochester Baptist Church officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona, Minn.
The family prefers memorials directed to the National Ataxia Association at 2600 Fern Brook Lane, Suite 119, Minneapolis, Minn., 55447.
Leave a memory of Terry and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.