Terry Lynn Christian

Terry Lynn Christian, 59, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away April 11th, 2026.

Terry arrived January 25th, 1967, to Clara and Albert Christian of Rushville, IN. He shared a childhood home with two brothers and four sisters. In 1979, he moved to Indianapolis to stay with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. 

Terry married his love, Jodi Lynn Christian, in 1992, with whom he had one daughter, Lauren Claire Christian, and one son, Grant Matthew Christian. 

Terry lived a devoted life to family, friends, and faith. As he and Jodi built a family, his career blossomed at the nearby Schlegel Greenhouse. He enjoyed the short commute which afforded him time to eat lunch at home with his wife and growing children. During this time, he also worked overnight at Federal Express. Despite fatigue, he saw his children to bed every night with a hug and kiss. He later enjoyed a subsequent career driving heavy freight for United Parcel Service. Off the clock Terry worked selflessly for those he loved, offering expertise in all things auto, home repair, pet-sitting (he grew fond of Lauren’s animals, calling himself their “pop-pop”), or any job which excused a new tool. 

Terry built an auto workshop, fulfilling his dream of owning a car lift, on which he grunted through the maintenance of many friends and family vehicles. He chored through an infinite list of projects, sacrificially ordered to serve others. His love, Jodi, once fed local birds through a maze of unsightly feeders. In a weekend, Terry crafted her a bird-watcher's utopia, luring several bird species to sturdy feeders just beyond her window. All projects were completed alongside Jodi, between meals at their beloved Culvers and trips to dreaded hardware stores. After tucking in his tools, Terry relaxed every night beside Jodi and their cat Jonah. 

An enthusiast of antique oil cans, Terry spent myriad weekends with Jodi scouring Indiana’s small town shops, adopting forgotten oilers to their forever home on his collection shelf. When family visited, he pointed up to the crowd of rusty cans, introducing his recent finds with pride. His most cherished oilers were gifts from Jodi and his children. 

Terry reveled in lifelong devotion to the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Cincinnati Reds, and Purdue Boilermakers. He accompanied his teams through winning and losing eras, during which he had plenty of gripes and suggestions. During intense playoff bouts he often refused to watch, superstitious that his viewing rendered bad luck. Even so, Terry remained faithful to his teams, victory or loss. 

He is survived by his wife, Jodi Christian; his children, Lauren Christian (Brayden Reed) and Grant Christian (Maci Runkel); his mother in-law, Barbara Magendanz; his sister and brother in-law, Sherrie Jordan and James “Trix” Troxel; brother in-law Eddie (Brenda) Magendanz and his siblings, Bonnie (Alan) Farthing, Joy Oakley, Robin McDonald, Bruce (Missy) Christian, Rick (Tiffany) Christian, Penny Adams; and many other loving family and friends.Terry is predeceased by his mother and father, Clara and Albert Christian; his father-in-law, Fred Magendanz, his aunt and uncle, Edna and Dale Jordan; his cousins Robert “Bob” Jordan and Kathy Garcia; and his brother in-law David McDonald. 

A memorial service will be held in the future to celebrate Terry’s life.