Terry Engstrom

CONCORD - A memorial Mass for Terry Engstrom, 66, of Concord, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 23, 2009, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 139 Manor Avenue SW, Concord, with Father Joseph Dionne C.Ss.R. officiating. A visitation and rosary service will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at Hartsell Funeral Home-Concord. Terry passed away, in the presence of family, in the early hours of the morning at Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast in Concord, on Monday, July 20, 2009. Terry was born Sept. 24, 1942, in Junction City, Kan., and attended St. Xavier's Schools. In his senior year, Terry joined the U.S. Navy and served four years in Kingsville, Tx. On Aug. 16, 1969, he married Sandra Farlow, also of Junction City, and this year would have marked their 40th anniversary. In 1968, Terry went to work at the Junction City Pizza Hut and over the next 11 years advanced to Area Supervisor of the Pizza Huts of Manhattan. In 1980, Terry partnered with three men, Roger Sink, Phil Woodword and his former employer, Bernie Butler. Terry moved to Concord, in 1980 and acquired six Pizza Huts that were Carolina Pizza Huts, Inc. He grew this franchise into 14 Pizza Hut restaurants. In 1992, Terry became a Sonic Drive-In franchisee and grew his Sonic business into 7 restaurants around our area. Terry took pride in treating his company as a family and believed in giving his employees as many of the benefits he himself would have wanted from an employer. He was a man who never dreaded going to work one single day and was an inspiration to his family, friends and co-workers. His generosity over the years was noted by many people in the community. He believed in giving back to the very people who made him successful and giving every person a chance to earn their own success. He would never turn down an opportunity to give a helping hand to any organization where children were involved. He seemed to take his greatest joy in life from watching his granddaughter Cameron grow up. He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his daughter, Tara Engstrom of Concord; his son, Gus Engstrom and granddaughter Cameron Engstrom-Dunn also of Concord; three sisters, Carolyn Cook of Junction City, Kan., Pippy Engstrom of Manhattan, Kan. and Barbie Engstrom of Fort Collins, Colo., nieces and nephews too numerous to mention, and his dog, Hubbel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Kathryn Engstrom and his brother Doug Engstrom, all of Junction City, Kan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint James Cemetery Fund PO Box 123 Concord, NC 28026 or the Conflict Resolution Center of Cabarrus County PO Box 1222 Concord, NC 28026. Hartsell Funeral Home-Concord will be assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com