Terry Dillman

Terry R. Dillman of Rockford, Il passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026 at the Swedish American Hospital after a short illness.

Born on September 9, 1946 in Herrin, IL the oldest of six children of Edward and Evelyn (Belcher) Dillman. His father worked most of his life in the Southern Illinois coal mines. Terry graduated from Marion High School in Marion, Illinois before attending MacMurray College and Southern Illinois University where he met and married Diana Hay. The couple had two children, Andrew and Juli. Terry spent the last 48 years with the love of his life, Jane (Zimmers) Dillman. They were married on June 16, 1979, in Rockford, Illinois. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in all four children: Jane’s 2 children, Timothy, Tamera, and Andrew and Juli.

After college Terry started his career in liquid separation and purification with IWT in Rockford, Il and later became their Vice President of R&D. In 1988, Terry moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. where he was corporate Vice President of R&D for Alcoa Separations, responsible for US, Canadian, and French Operations.

He contributed chapters in books and encyclopedias, as well as authored a variety of technical papers, reviewed articles for scientific magazines, and held several patents for chemical engineering innovations. Terry returned to Rockford in 2001 and spent the last years of his career as Business Consultant for ProSep Ltd in Roscoe, IL. He was a highly respected professional and specialist in the liquid separation industry.

Terry had a lifelong love of golf with fleeting interests in dirt biking, flying his own Cessna Cardinal, art collection, and casino blackjack. He enjoyed watching sports on TV as well as keeping up on current events. Most of all, he enjoyed working. One of his personal highlights was completing a 25-year project of researching, documenting, and publishing his family genealogy.

He is survived by and missed by his wife Jane. 3 children: Juli (Tom) Melanson, Texas, Timothy (Ellen) Clark, South Carolina, and Tamera (Curt) Born, Illinois, grandchildren: Sean Dillman, Alexander Melanson, Brandon Clark, Nathan Davis, Tyler Born, and Alexis Born, sisters: Carol (Al) Philips, Illinois, and Vicky (Rene) Patterson, South Carolina. brothers: Chris (Lori) Dillman, Illinois, Brad (Lisa) Dillman, Georgia, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his son Andrew, both parents, and his brother Scott.