Robert Terry

Claggett

Obituary Robert Terry Claggett March 12 1946-September 19 2026

Robert Terry Claggett was born March 12, 1946 in Montevideo Minnesota to Robert A Claggett and Hermoine B (Sundem) Claggett. He was the oldest of three boys. He graduated in 1964 from Jefferson High School in Alexandria Minnesota and went to work in his father’s business, Aqua Float Company, building seaplane pontoons. Terry’s father Bob Claggett was a pilot and flight instructor, having taught pilots during WW2, and now taught Terry and his other sons Brad and Brian to fly. Terry earned his private and commercial pilots license, rated for land/sea. Aqua Float Company became a family business, with all three sons eventually working in the production, sale, and installation of the pontoons on aircraft worldwide. Much of the company’s test flying was done at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven Florida.

Terry met and married Helen Butterfield of Staples Minnesota in 1966. She eventually joined the family workforce at Aqua Float Company.

In his later years Terry developed and built a 9-hole golf course on farmland near his hometown of Alexandria Minnesota. It broke his heart when he lost it in the recession of 2008 when his customers no longer could afford to golf due to extreme fuel prices.

Terry loved the water and was an accomplished water skier, spending summers on the lake with his brother Brad learning to barefoot ski, shoe ski, and tandem-ski. It’s told around that one Prom night he skied barefoot in his Prom tuxedo and got back to shore dry.

Terry was an accomplished bowler, and in 2003 won the ABC (American Bowling Congress) national championship with his teammates from Alexandria MN. The beautiful trophy is on display at his ‘home house’, Garden Center Lanes in Alexandria, Minnesota. It was a highlight in his life.

Another favorite for Terry was fishing, and he loved a delightful place in Ontario that he could fly to and do nothing but fish. It was a love of the whole family. In his later years he and his wife spent summers there.

Terry is survived by wife Helen, brothers Brad (Carol), and Brian (Donna), nephew Cory Claggett, and nieces Cynthia Marsh (Ridge Manor), Gayle Forrester (Zephyrhills), Leslie Rookey (Dade City), and Holly Jones (Zephyrhills).

Please send any gifts and memorials to Metropolitan Ministries.