Terry Elke, Donor

He helped everyone in life and continued in death...

Terry tragically died of lung cancer in February of 2009. He signed up as a donor 4 months before that when getting new pictures on our drivers licenses. At the time I laughed at him and said ” Who would want your organs? You are old and have smoked for years?!?!?”

We were on our way to my only brothers funeral, and Terry felt sick when we got back. After being misdiagnosed with pneumonia, he was hospitalized and in an induced coma before life support was stopped. He was gone in 10 days. The Donor Network of Arizona called me and I had forgotten about him being a donor. They took his corneas. He helped everyone in life and continued in death.

We still love and miss you Terry!! We were together for 36 years, since I was 17 years old. A great Father and a great Husband. He was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. So sad he was not there to receive this honor.