Terry Jay Emswiler

Terry Jay Emswiler, known to everyone as Big Terry, Emmitt or just Terry, was born on December 27, 1950, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and died on November 2, 2026, in Lancaster, Ohio, at the age of 75. Big Terry was a man of many passions, and he gave his whole heart to each one. He loved a good card game and never turned down a seat at the table. Softball was woven through his life for many years—on the field and off it—and the games he shared with friends and family are memories many still carry. When his playing days were behind him, he found a new favorite spot in the stands, cheering on his granddaughter Kayle season after season. If he ever missed one of her games, none of us can remember it. He loved to fish, and he loved the stories that came home with him almost as much as the catch. Those tales seemed to get a little better every time he told them. Nothing mattered more to Terry than his family. His grandchildren—Cole, Cody, and Kayle—who held a very special place in his heart. He is survived by his son, Terry T. Emswiler (and his wife Clarissa); his grandchildren Cole Emswiler (and his wife Alivia), Cody Emswiler, and Kayle Emswiler; and his siblings, Ronnie Emswiler and Charmain Hillman. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Connie Z. Emswiler, as well as his parents, Virgil and Juanita Emswiler. In the years after losing Connie, Terry faced a long, hard battle, but we held on to the man we had always known. Big Terry—also known as T, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, and Friend—will be forever loved and deeply missed. He lives on in our hearts, in our memories, and in every story we tell about him. In honoring dads wishes, no services will be held.