Terry Martin Burds

October 12, 1956 – October 18, 2026

Terry Martin Burds, 70, of Peosta, Iowa, passed away at his home on Sunday, October 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of the family he cherished so deeply.

Visitation for Terry will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held for Terry at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Peosta, Iowa, with Rev. Phil Gibbs Presiding. Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Centralia, Iowa.

Terry was born on October 12, 1956, to Edward J. and Helen (Maas) Burds. He grew up on the Burds family farm alongside his six siblings, where he learned the values of hard work, dedication, and family that stayed with him throughout his life. He graduated from Western Dubuque High School in 1974.

During his high school years, Terry met the love of his life, Shirley (Ernzen). What began as young love blossomed into a beautiful lifetime together. Terry and Shirley were united in marriage on June 4, 1976, and this past June they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by the family and friends who meant so much to them.

Together, Terry and Shirley built a life centered on family, raising their four children, Jason, Jeremy, Kelli, and Justin. While Terry had many accomplishments throughout his life, nothing made him prouder than his family. His greatest joy was being a grandfather to Alex, Max, Luke, Corey, Helen, Juliana, Ethan, Eliza, Patrick, and Charlie. Terry treasured every chance to watch his grandchildren grow, whether it was cheering from the sidelines at a sporting event, sitting in the stands at a performance, helping with a 4-H or scouting project, or simply spending time with them.

Terry was a talented craftsman who dedicated his life to building more than just houses. As the owner of Burds Construction Service, he spent 50 years building beautiful homes and leaving his mark on the surrounding communities, including serving as a member of the West Dubuque Jaycees and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for many years. His craftsmanship, strong work ethic, and attention to detail were evident in everything he did. He took great pride in his work and in the relationships, he built along the way. Terry showed his love for his friends and family by helping them build their dreams, even if that dream was a treehouse for his grandsons. If Terry could help you, he did.

Terry also shared his knowledge and passion for construction with the next generation, serving as a construction instructor at Northeast Iowa Community College for 18 years before retiring in 2024. Through his teaching, he passed along not only the skills of the trade but also the importance of taking pride in a job well done.

Outside of work, Terry enjoyed baseball and cheering for his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and Detroit Tigers. He appreciated life's simple pleasures, but above all, he loved being surrounded by family and friends. Terry's life was filled with people who loved him, including many friends and cousins who were more like family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 50 years, Shirley; his four children, Jason (Jennifer) Burds of Peosta, Jeremy (Tracy) Burds of Central City, Kelli (Kurt) Weland of Dubuque, and Justin Burds of Dubuque; and his ten beloved grandchildren, Alex, Max, Luke, Corey, Helen, Juliana, Ethan, Eliza, Patrick, and Charlie.

He is also survived by his brothers, Gary (Donna) Burds of Peosta and Dennis Burds of Monticello; his sisters, Sharon Burds of Las Cruces, NM, Deb Burds McDonough of Peosta, Joyce (Steven) Then of Peosta, and Vonda (Dale) Hoffman of Peosta; his in-laws, Barb Ernzen of Epworth, Loras (Debbie) Ernzen of Dubuque, Dianne (Daryl) Kamp of Epworth, Terri (Pat) Daly of Farley, Ken Ernzen of Epworth, and Karen Kluesner of Marion; Dave March, who became like a son to him; his cousin Matthew “Butch” Maas, his friends Steve Sheston and Luke “Otis” Bonert, who became more like brothers to him; and many nieces especially his four goddaughters Dawn, Samantha, Stephanie, Emily, nephews especially his godson Mitch, cousins, and dear friends, too numerous to list.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Helen Burds; his father-in-law, Raymond Ernzen; his mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law, Ardella and Frank Connolly; his sister-in-law, Jody Burds; his brothers-in-law, Melvin Ernzen, Gary Ernzen, and Ernie Kluesner; and his faithful canine companion, Brittany.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Peosta and Centralia Fire Departments and the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department for their assistance, kindness, and compassion.

Terry leaves behind a legacy measured not by the homes he built or the years he worked, but by the family he loved, the lessons he taught, the lives he touched, and the memories that will be treasured for generations.

The homes Terry built will stand for years to come, but the love he fostered within his family will last forever.

A video tribute may be viewed and online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com

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