TAMA- Robert O. Thomas, age 82, of Tama, died on Monday, July 24, 2006 in his home in Tama under the care of Grinnell Regional Hospice due to a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2006, at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Ron Arends officiating. Interment will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 26, 2006 from 4-7 PM at the Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Robert O. Thomas was born on November 10, 1923, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Owen C. and Emma B. (Roth) Thomas. He served in the Army Engineers during World War II. Robert married Geraldine "Gerry" Allen on October 9, 1944 in Tacoma, Washington where he was stationed at Ft. Lewis. Robert was the former owner of Thomas & Company in Tama. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Tama VFW Post #8373, Tama American Legion Enright-Schrader Post #73, Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee, Florida, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Tama-Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Tama-Toledo Country Club, and had been honored as Tama citizen of the year. Besides his family, his work was his love. Robert deeply enjoyed designing and planning projects, and boating.
He was preceded in death by his parents Owen C. Thomas and Emma B. Jones, a daughter Kathy, and two sisters Bette Heistand and Eleanor Bulichek.
Survivors include his wife Geraldine "Gerry" Thomas of Tama; two sons, Larry (Deb) Thomas of Tama and Steve (Barbara) Thomas of Plano, TX; one daughter, Becky (Stan) Zeutenhorst of Brooklyn; six grandchildren, Paige (Mark) Herbsleb of Grimes, Scott (Lori Jo) Thomas of Grays Lake, IL, Kevin Thomas and special friend, Pam of Tama, Todd Thomas of Dallas, TX, Zachary (Shannon) Zeutenhorst of Toledo, and Zoshua (Maria) Zeutenhorst of Des Moines; and three great-grandsons, Logan and Luke Herbsled and Braydon Zeutenhorst.
Memorials are appreciated to American Cancer Society or St. Paul Lutheran Church.