Terry L. “T-Bone” Richardson, age 83 of Middleton, WI passed peacefully into eternal life on June 25th, 2025 at the Waunakee Valley Senior Living facility in Waunakee. He was born in Richland Center on October 14, 1941, to Lloyd & Ethel (Shore) Richardson. He lived with his family in Blue River and Lone Rock, WI; Redwood Falls, MN; and the past 43 years at his home in Middleton. In 2006, he received his first nickname and from then on became lovingly known as “T-Bone” to all who met him.
Terry attended grade school in Lone Rock and graduated from River Valley High School. He studied drafting at MATC after high school and worked most of his life in the residential real estate business. He helped manage and maintain his family’s apartment buildings, along with his good friend Mike Nelson for many years.
With his father as one of his Scoutmasters, Terry was very proud to earn and achieve the Boy Scouts of America prestigious merit ranking of Eagle Scout. He enjoyed using those scouting skills in the great outdoors with his family and friends. Terry loved fishing and camping in southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin lakes and rivers, and on Lake Mendota which is close to his home.
Terry became a licensed airplane pilot and enjoyed flying trips out of the Lone Rock and Middleton Airports. He was a big fan of the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He kept himself busy in retirement as a lifelong learner and using the internet at his desk computer and on his new Smartphone. Terry enjoyed researching new ideas as well as studying history and old movies. With his drafting background, he liked to draw architectural designs and new home ideas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Ethel, and his brother Ron. Survivors include several cousins and many good friends. Terry was very close with his cousin Darwin Mainwaring from Gotham, WI and Cheyenne, WY, who predeceased him several years ago.
Terry had a wonderful younger brother, Ron, and they were the best of friends throughout his life. Terry loved their times together here in Wisconsin and visiting Ron at his geological exploration work sites in Nevada and Wyoming. For four decades, Ron’s geologist efforts resulted in many silver, gold, oil, and gas deposits. In 2007, Ron moved home to Middleton to live with Terry in his last year before passing in 2008.
Terry wants to give special thanks for the Richardson family’s lifelong loving relationships with the entire O’Connor family. They were great friends and Terry became a part of their family, especially with Pat and Joan’s family for the past 45 years. He participated in all their holidays, birthdays, graduations, marriages, and special life events. He was affectionately known as “Papa Terry” to Lyndsay, Christin, Ryan and their 8 grandchildren that loved him dearly.
Terry was very especially grateful for the many years of dedicated personal caregiving he received from Joan, Pat, and Lyndsay O’Connor. They were always there to assist Terry in every way and helped to extend his health and quality of life for many years. He was truly loved as a friend, brother, and Papa to our families! We will miss the meals and fun times we had together at the Middleton Sport Bowl, the Mid Town Pub, and in our homes over the years.
Mike & Shirley Nelson have been very close friends and business partners for over forty years. They worked very well together and their joint efforts have produced great success and a lasting legacy. Terry also had a good friend in Rick Schmidt and his furry dog friends Bandit, Bernie, and Princess who loved to visit him at his home and in the assisted care facilities. Terry lit up with excitement when they came to see him.
Terry had a strong will to keep on living throughout many physical challenges over the last 15 years. He was uplifted by so many who surrounded him with prayers to God for his healing. He experienced miraculous recoveries time and time again. This helped him realize how much God loved and cared for him. His faith grew very strong as he felt God’s love and presence in his life. We would rejoice with him often as he was so grateful to know with certainty that he would one day go to Heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is now rejoicing there!
Thanks to all of the medical staff that have provided healthcare services to Terry for the last several years, especially his Primary Doctor Kelly Harold.
Throughout his life, Terry shared the same humor and friendly spirit that he received from his parents Lloyd and Ethel and his brother Ron. He communicated those gifts of uplifting humor with his ever present smile to everyone that were blessed to have met him. He was a wonderful, gentle soul and will be greatly missed. Terry will always live on in our hearts… forever!
Terry’s Celebration of Life and his Faith in Christ will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Cress Center Funeral Home, 6021 University Avenue, Madison, WI (608) 238-8046. Lunch will follow at The Cress Center and burial will follow at 2:15 in the Greenwood Cemetery, CTH X, Blue River, WI.
Please share your online condolences and memories of Terry by posting in his guestbook at (cressfuneralservice.com). In lieu of flowers, Terry asks that you to consider a donation to the Salvation Army or your favorite charity.
Cress Center
6021 University Ave. Madison
(608) 238-8406