NWA Capt. Terry Arden Juliar

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. Terry Arden Juliar

July 4, 1938 ~ November 13, 2024

 

 

Sharing news from the RNPA/Retired Northwest Pilots group…..

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,  

I regret having to inform you that our colleague Terry Juliar died on

November 13, 2024. Terry was first hired by Northwest Airlines in 1959 to

wash airplanes. In time he earned his certification as a A&P mechanic. In

1962 he joined the pilot ranks and flew thereafter for 35 years.  

Celebration of Terry's life will be held at Lake Minnetonka Shores, 4515

Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN, on Friday, November 22 at 1330 (1:30 pm).

 Our condolences to Terry's family.  

 

PCN memorial site

https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/terry-juliar-1092294620 

 

Juliar, Terry Arden age 86, of Minnetrista, MN. Born 7/4/1938 and died on 11/13/2024. Terry was the youngest child of Ralph and Rosalia Juliar of St. Clair, MN, where he lived and worked the life of a southern Minnesota 'farm kid.' Despite winning a few 4H ribbons for his Black Angus cattle, he determined by high school that farm life was not for him. Seeds were sewn in the attic of that farmhouse - where he spent hours building model airplanes and dreamed of a life in the clouds. He met the love of his life, Nadine Buckhaus at age 15 at a Youth Fellowship event at church, and within a few weeks of their high school graduation they were married in Mankato, MN and headed west to California in an unreliable hot rod with a few suitcases, a box of tools, and big dreams.

Terry returned to Minnesota a couple years later with Nadine by his side and his Aircraft & Powerplant; Mechanics certificate from Northrup Aviation Institute. He soon began a career in the 'golden era' of aviation. He followed an improbable path -- hired by Northwest Airlines in 1959 first to wash airplanes and then as a mechanic. He became a pilot, realizing his ultimate dream, in 1962. He flew for Northwest Airlines for another 35 years, retiring as a DC-10 captain.

Along the way he established a 'home base' on the shores of Lake Minnetonka where he turned his three children lose to grow and play. His inescapable side-kick during this time was a black lab named Sparky who received an uncommon amount of care and doting. Most of his life was large - full of friends and family, fireworks displays, a resolute faith, community and church involvement, and the best kind of mischief. His final few years were small, in the ways that age and ill-health often force smallness, but he met those challenges with humor, wit, curiosity, and a refusal to let his physical limitations tint his view of life.

He is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Juliar, his mother, Rosalia Juliar, brother LaMarr Juliar, and sister, Elaine Heitke. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nadine Juliar, his children, Heidi, Troy, and Blair Juliar, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A celebration of Terry's life will be held at Lake Minnetonka Shores, 4515 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN 55384, on Friday November 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Friends and Colleagues,  

A pilot obituary has been posted for Terry Juliar. You can view Terry's obituary via this link: < https://rnpa.org/memoriam/obits >

What an amazing path to becoming an airline pilot! Not the most direct routing! In the obit I mention Terry walking from the LAX layover hotel to the Aviation Trade School he attended on the east side of LAX airport. I once made this trek with him. It was absolutely delightful! Terry was in the class ahead of me at NWA. Actually he was hired about a week before the class ahead of me commenced. At the time Terry was a NWA Maintenance crew chief on the flight line at MSP for NWA. He was never a Flight Engineer, therefore came from a different career routing.

Enough said: read the obit……please see below.

Captain Terry Arden Juliar, age 86, of Minnetrista, MN was born July 4, 1938, at St. Clair, MN. Terry was the youngest child of Ralph and Rosalia Juliar of St. Clair where he lived and worked the life of a southern Minnesota 'farm kid.' Despite winning a few 4H ribbons for his Black Angus cattle, he determined by high school that farm life was not for him. Seeds were sewn in the attic of that farmhouse where he spent hours building model airplanes and dreaming of life in the clouds.

   At the young age of 15, Terry met the love of his life, Nadine Buckhaus at a Youth Fellowship event at church, and within a few weeks of their high school graduation they were married in Mankato, MN. Shortly thereafter they headed west to Los Angeles, California, riding in an unreliable hotrod loaded with a few suitcases, a box of tools, and big dreams.

   Terry attended the Northrop Aviation Institute, now Northrop University, at Inglewood, California. A couple of productive years later, Terry and Nadine returned to Minnesota with a freshly acquired FAA Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanics license in hand. Terry had acquired many certifiable aviation skills and was ready for a career in the golden era of aviation. What followed was an improbable path.

   An interesting note: years later Terry would stretch his legs after long days in the cockpit by walking with his fellow pilots from the Los Angeles Airport hotel to the nearby campus where he studied aviation technology. Terry could give a great tour.  

   Terry was hired by Northwest Airlines in 1959 as an equipment service employee and initially assigned to wash airplanes, a common starting work assignment for future aircraft mechanics. After paying his dues working the shops and ramp, Terry was upgraded to Line Mechanic. He proved himself skillful working the Terminal flight line as a mechanic and eventually upgraded to Crew Chief.

     If his life was not busy enough with Crew Chief airline work and home responsibilities, Terry also pursued flight training acquiring his FAA pilot licenses. On September 04, 1965, Terry achieved his ultimate dream, his name was entered on the Northwest Airlines pilot seniority list as pilot #679.

   During the time he was acquiring his pilot licenses, Terry and a friend purchased an Aeronca 11 AC Chief. This airplane was a single engine conventional gear airplane often described as “a basic gentle flyer with good manners.” Terry subsequently rebuilt and flew the Aeronca Chief until selling it in 1971 to provide a down payment for his house on Lake Minnetonka.

   Terry attended the NWA new hire initial pilot ground school class of September 13, 1965. His initial crew assignment was as a Boeing 707 Second Officer based at Minneapolis (MSP). Two years later he upgraded to Boeing 727 copilot and then followed the classic NWA MSP career progression: First officer on the 727, followed by the 707, initial captain on the 727 followed by the wide body DC-10. Terry finished his 33-year pilot career as a captain on the DC-10.

    Along the way, Terry and Nadine established their 'home base' on the shores of Lake Minnetonka where he turned his three children loose to grow and play. His inescapable sidekick during this time was a black lab named Sparky who received an uncommon amount of care and doting.   

   Most of Terry’s life was large in scope being full of friends and family, fireworks displays, a resolute faith, community and church involvement, and the best kind of mischief. His final few years were small, in the ways that age and ill-health often force smallness, but he met those challenges with humor, wit, curiosity, and a refusal to let his physical limitations tint his view of life.

   Terry is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Juliar; his mother, Rosalia Juliar; brother, LaMarr Juliar; and sister, Elaine Heitke. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nadine Juliar; his children, Heidi, Troy, and Blair Juliar; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

(Juliar family and Bill Day)