Thomas P. Then, 1935-2000

THEN, JOHNSON, CONNOLLY, GIBBS, RAUEN, DUSTER, AMENT, EKLUND, NILLES, LEHMAN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 3/3/2015 at 10:00:09

EPWORTH, Iowa - Thomas P. Then, 65, of 102 Seminary Ave., Epworth, died after a short and courageous battle with cancer at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Epworth. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Epworth, where military rites will be accorded by the Epworth American Legion John White Post 650. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Epworth, where there will be the Epworth Fire Department meeting in a body at 6:30 p.m., wake service at 7 p.m., and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 p.m. The Epworth American Legion Post 650 also will meet in a body at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Then was a carpenter all of his life, working for several companies over the years. Since 1979, he owned and operated Tom Then Construction.

He was born on July 10, 1935, in Placid, rural Epworth, son of Peter and Sarah (Johnson) Then. He married Janell Connolly on April 12, 1958, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fillmore.

He received his education at the Placid and Epworth schools. He was well-known for his fine woodworking and craftsmanship. He was a member of St. Patrick's Parish, Epworth; Epworth Knights of Columbus Council 7823, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 678. He was a former volunteer for the Epworth Fire Department. He also was an Army veteran, having served from Nov. 1, 1955, to Sept. 30, 1961.

Surviving are his wife, Janell Then, of Epworth; two sons, Terry (Marce) Then, of Epworth, and Steve (Joyce) Then, of Peosta; three daughters, Joan (Tim) Gibbs, of Zwingle, Joyce (David) Rauen, of Epworth, and Marie (Paul) Duster, of Dubuque; 18 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; his mother, Sarah Then, of Dubuque; four brothers, Joe (Nancy) Then, of Dyersville, Bill (Judy) Then and Jim (Linda) Then, both of Placid, and Phil (Janet) Then, of Peosta; five sisters, Alice Ament, of Dyersville, Mildred Eklund, of Janesville, Wis., Jeanette (Joe) Nilles and Mary Jane (Bob) Gleason, both of Dyersville, and Ruth (Mike) Lehmann, of Bankston; and a sister-in-law, Mary Kay Then, of Epworth.

He was preceded in death by his father, Peter Then, on May 9, 1951; two brothers, Frank H. Then, on May 17, 1970, and Leo Then, on Feb. 24, 1997; a sister, Sister Mary Gretta, OSF, on May 1, 1986; and a brother-in-law, Paul Ament, on Aug. 14, 1986.

In lieu of flowers, a Thomas P. Then Memorial Fund has been established.

He had a great passion for God's nature. He dearly loved his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

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