Terrill James Kawcak

Terry passed away peacefully at his home in Datil, NM on February 23, 2025. After a long fought battle with Systemic Scerloderma (an auto immune disease). Terry was born on March 6, 1950 to Paul and Louise (Lou) Kawcak in Craig Colorado.

As a young child he enjoyed a lot of time with his cousins and family at the families ranch known as the Kawcak Homestead (est. 1914) by his Grandparents. At eight years old his Father Paul acquired a job in Gallup, NM, building houses. Two years later Paul's job led the family to Albuquerque where they settled and bought their family home.

Terry attended Queen of Heaven School up until the eighth grade. During that time he learned to speak latin and proudly served as an altar boy, earning several awards including altar boy of the year. Terry attended St. Pius HS for his ninth grade year before being recommended to attend the Catholic Seminary in Santa Fe, NM the seminary closed in 1966.

Terry then returned to and graduated from St Pius HS in 1968. He attended UNM where joined the football team and studied to become a football coach after attending college he joined the Air National Guard in 1969. Terry married the love of his life, Carolyn, and became a Dad to her- two- year old son, David in 1974. In 1977, they had their second child Shawn and their third child, Shannon, was born in 1980.

Terry's hobbies included cheering for his daughter at her basketball games, enjoying the great outdoors rather working, snowmobiling, camping, hunting, taking us kids to the park, watching Shawn play YAFL football, launching model rockets or just throwing the ball around with us. He later enjoyed the same activities with his grandchildren including coaching his granddaughter Angelica's city basketball team with Shannon and attending countless tennis matches to support his granddaughter Felicity.

Terry was an amazing and proud Dad to his three children and Grandpa to his four grandchildren. Spending quality time with his family was most important to him. Terry left the National Guard after 12 years to start his own business Bardahl NM, as an automotive wholesale distributor.

He was well- known in the local automotive industry. He serviced numerous customers from Santa Fe to Belen, NM, throughout his 25 years in business, before retiring in 2006. At that time, he spent his days being the absolute best Grandpa he could be to his beloved grandchildren Angelica, Felicity, Nicholas and Alexander. Terry was known for his extensive mechanical ability to fix or build anything and everything he set his mind to, a talent he passed down to his son, Shawn.

In 2014, Terry and Shawn completed a beautiful addition to Terry and Carolyn's retirement home. Terry will forever be remembered by those that loved him as a strong, authentic, peaceful, calm, fun-loving, caring, compassionate, and cherished husband of 50 years. He was the best father, grandfather, big brother, nephew, cousin, father in law, brother in law, uncle, friend- a guy everyone liked and most importantly, a Godly man who instilled his murals and values into his children and grandchildren. I, Shannon, want to extend my deepest heartfelt love and appreciation to my brother Shawn for his love and commitment to helping and caring for our parents these last 10 years, now and into the future. Cremation has already taken place. No service will be held. Our family would like to thank everyone for the prayers and support, during this most difficult time.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com

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