THOMAS, John Robert 1918-2002

THOMAS, KAHLER, HAGEDORN, LEWIS, KLESS, CEDERLUND

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/27/2012 at 16:16:12

John Robert Thomas was born February 13, 1918 in Traer, Iowa, the son of Paul and Zenaide (Kahler) Thomas. John received his education in Traer and graduated with the class of 1938.

On July 18, 1939 he was united in marriage to Euterpa Mae Hagedorn at Fort Collins, Colorado. He then worked in the family plumbing business before entering the US Coast Guard. John served his country during World War II in the South Pacific and was involved at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Following his discharge he returned to Traer to work for the US Postal service and continued in the plumbing and heating business.

John was an active member of the community by serving as a Boy Scout Leader, a fireman and in the American Legion Kubik Finch Post # 142, John has been a lifetime member of the Ripley United Church of Christ.

Following retirement from the Postal Service he and Euterpa continued to make their home in Traer.

John has fought a battle with Parkinson's disease since 1978 and chose to move to Waterloo to be near family in 1997. In 1998 he became a resident of the Ravenwood Care Center. On Sunday John was admitted to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where his death came on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at the age of 84 years.

He was preceded in death by a daughter Paula [Lehmeier]and one sister Virginia.

He is survived by his wife Euterpa, one son John of Waterloo, three daughters Suzanne (Duane) Lewis of Waterloo, Candace (Ron) Kless of Geneva, IL and Cheri (Gary) Cederlund of Waterloo, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Services: Friday, September 20, 2002, Ripley United Church of Christ. Arrangements by Overton Family Funeral Home, Traer, Iowa

Interment Buckingham Cemetery, Traer, Iowa

[Source: Funeral Service Folder, Credit: Von Stachon]