Terry Lee Bobzien

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Terry Lee Bobzien, who departed this life peacefully on October 15, 2025, at the age of 77. He was surrounded by his family in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Terry was born, July 29, 1948, to Lacel and Rosella Bobzien in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He was the eldest of six children. He spent his early years growing up on a farm in Forbes, North Dakota. Terry grew up with a love of agriculture and farming that served him well in future career choices. He attended Forbes Schools through 8th grade, when the family moved to Ellendale, North Dakota. Always a gifted student he was promoted to the 3rd grade after 6 weeks of 2nd grade. He graduated from Ellendale High School in 1965, enrolling in Jamestown (College) University where he attended for one year, transferring to North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota earning a degree in Psychology in 1969. Upon graduation, he entered Dubuque Theological Seminary, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Terry enjoyed electronics, radio and television, earning his first-class radio engineering license at age 16, and was an avid ham radio enthusiast throughout high school. As he entered college, he became involved in radio and television in the Fargo area. Spending time as transmitter engineer for a television station in Bismarck the summer prior to entering Jamestown, followed by on air DJ for the campus radio stations in Jamestown and Fargo. He spent one summer rebuilding the campus radio station in Fargo upgrading it to stereo. Terry went on to have a 15-year career in radio and television spanning North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

In 1976, Terry met Loretta Bartolomei at WCEE-TV in Rockford, Illinois. They married in February of 1978 and moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In November of 1978, Terry accepted the position of manager of WELL-FM and WALM-AM in Albion and Marshall Michigan. Albion became home, where his children were born and raised, and he lived for 30 years.

In 1980, Terry changed careers, entering the agricultural equipment industry, selling livestock and grain handing products for twenty-five years. Including six years as co-owner of Custom Ag Services of Marshall and Albion.

The early 2000’s brought many changes for Terry and Loretta with both returning to complete master's degrees. Terry was deeply involved in the life of First United Methodist Church in Albion and had begun pulpit supply for a small rural church in Somerset, Michigan at the encouragement of Morley Fraiser from First UMC. Terry found himself drawn back into a call to serve a small rural church. He accepted the call to Pastor the First Congregational Church of Pittsford, Michigan, where he served from July 2004 until retiring in July 2024. In 2010 he completed his Master of Divinity at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan and was fully ordained in the National Association of Christian Congregational Churches. During his tenure at First Church of Pittsford, he was a founding member of the Love in the Name of Christ (Love, Inc) Chapter in Hillsdale Michigan. Love, Inc is an organization that aids those in need with services and mentoring through the churches in Hillsdale County. Additionally, Terry along with the congregation at the Wesleyan Church in Pittsford began a monthly fresh food distribution for those in need.

Terry’s love of music and theater along with his career in radio brought many opportunities to use his vocal talents singing in choir, acting on stage and announcing for various organizations. Each summer while in Albion, he announced for the Albion Community Band, which led to one of his best “gigs”. Jim and Bill Grey asked if he would be the Narrator for a new group that they were developing, The Brass Band of Battle Creek. Terry accepted and was the narrator for the BBBC for over 30 years.

Terry is survived by his wife, Loretta, their children, Lisa (Jason) Rockacy, Matthew (Doniel) Bobzien, Benjamin (Kelly Parker) Bobzien and Angela (David) Santos, and honorary daughter, Veronica (Marissa) Mapp, six grandchildren, Carson and Emerson Rockacy, Charlee, Arthur and Dillon Bobzien and Jack Santos. He is also survived by his siblings, Steven (Julie) Bobzien, Jill (Mark) Murphey, Robin (Susan) Bobzien and Holly (Rusty) Merkel, sister-in-law Julie G. (Randy) Bobzien, and brother-in-law Carl (Kim) Bartolomei. Additionally, he is survived by 17 nieces and nephews and their spouses and 29 great-nieces and nephews.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents Lacel and Rosella Bobzien, brother Randy, nephew Ryan Bobzien, his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and by his in-laws Angelo and Sylvia Bartolomei, brother-in-law Thomas Bartolomei.

Terry lived his life firmly rooted in the Fruit of the Spirit, reciting this in many sermons over the past twenty years. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Terry’s Life well lived will take place on November 17, 2025. Visitation with the family at noon, service at 1:00 pm followed by a luncheon at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Memorials may be made to the family, please.