Thomas J. Champion - 1925-1997

CHAMPION, MEEHAN, HEGEMAN, SKEATE, RINKEN

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 7/9/2011 at 20:25:18

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON STANDARD, April 9, 1997
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Thomas J. Champion, age 71, of Waukon, Iowa, formerly of Decorah, Iowa died Sunday, April 6, 1997 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota following a brief illness. Funeral services with military rites will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 10 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, Iowa with the Rev. Herbert Tegeler officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon, Iowa. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa was in charge of the arrangements. Casket bearers were Donald Hegeman, Robert Hegeman, Blake Hegeman, Jeffery Skeate, John Skeate, and Dean Rinken.

Thomas was born November 23, 1925 in Denison, Iowa, the son of Edward and Pearl (Meehan) Champion. He graduated from the Denison High School. He served in the military during WWII and received a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. On February 13, 1959 he married Mary Ann Hegeman of Waukon, Iowa at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Tom served as resident publisher of newspapers in Wisconsin and Illinois. His 46 year career included advertising sales for newspapers in Newton, Carroll, Independence, Waukon, and Decorah. At the time of his death, he was a printing salesman for Amundsen Publishing Company in Decorah, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and two half-brothers.

He is survived by his wife, a son, Thomas G. (Lynn) Champion of Urbandale, Iowa, 2 daughters, Elizabeth (Jeff) Skeate and Jenny (Dean) Rinken, all of Decorah, Iowa; and 3 grandchildren.