Paul Francis Terheide

Paul Francis Terheide, age 76, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away on August 16, 2025, after a long and valiant battle with renal cell carcinoma. But that is not what defined him.

Paul Terheide was born on June 9, 1949, in Anderson, Indiana, the second of four children, to Garland and Doris (Bodkin) Terheide. After spending his childhood in Anderson, Paul began his high school education at Sacred Heart Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, before returning home to graduate from Anderson High School.

At the age of 19, Paul enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his four years of service, he completed two tours in Vietnam, where his courage and dedication earned him the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry—an honor bestowed for acts of valor in combat.

Paul worked for many years as a millwright and maintenance engineer for companies including Delco-Remy and Johnson Controls. In later years, he devoted himself to veteran-oriented healing and behavioral health programs, most recently Healing Warrior Hearts and the Starfish Foundation, where he both participated and volunteered.

Paul is survived by a family who loved him deeply and loved one another: his wife, Beth Terheide; his daughters, Jeanne (Terheide) Foreman (Matt), Melinda Terheide, Clare Major, Michaela Major, and Olivia Major. He is also survived by his first wife, Katherine Elliott; his siblings, Richard Terheide (Susan), Therese (Terheide) Stewart, and Robert Terheide; and his grandchildren, Micha Lemen, Jared Lemen, and Konner Longar. Many extended family members and friends will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Doris and Garland; his second wife, Sheree Terheide; his brother-in-law, Bill Stewart; and his beloved dog, Sunny.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 11 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Paul’s honor be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ at www.ucc.org Indianapolis, or to Healing Warrior Hearts/Starfish Foundation at www.healingwarriorhearts.org.