Flaherty, Thomas J. 1943 - 2020
FLAHERTY, NIBAUR, GARDNER, FISHER, HEINZERLING, HAGEMAN, LEPA, POSHUSTA, POLANSKY
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/25/2020 at 18:18:20
Thomas J. Flaherty, age 76, of Elma (Lourdes), IA passed away peacefully on Friday, April 17, 2020 at Colonial Manor in Elma.
A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held 12:00 PM Friday, May 1, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes with Father Jerry Kopacek celebrating the Mass. PLEASE JOIN THE FAMILY FRIDAY, MAY 1, AT 12:00 PM. VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ON THE CONWAY-MARKHAM FUNERAL HOME FACEBOOK PAGE. Burial will follow the mass at Our Lady Of Lourdes Cemetery.
There will be a Celebration of Life held on the Flaherty Family Farm at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are with Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma.Tom was born on September 1, 1943 to John and Mildred (Nibaur) Flaherty. He attended grade school in Lourdes and graduated from Cresco High School in 1961. After graduation, Tom continued to help his dad on the family farm and began working at Oliver’s in Charles City, Iowa. On December 5, 1964, Tom married Kay Gardner in Elma. Together, they had five children: Jerry, Jeff, Jon, Jodi, and Joei.
Tom loved living on the family farm near Lourdes, Iowa, where he was born and raised. He enjoyed raising animals, farming the crops, milking cows, and bailing hay. Along with farming throughout his life, Tom also worked as a bus driver and mechanic for the Howard-Winneshiek School District for 30 years until retiring in December of 2006. Tom always had a love of farm tractors, especially Allis Chalmers, and this sparked his passion for collecting farm toys for well over 30 years. He collected anything and everything from John Deere, Case, and Oliver tractors, but his absolute favorite was Allis Chalmers. Tom and Kay enjoyed going to many toy shows and auctions to add to his collection. Needless to say, orange was his favorite color! Not only was Tom proud of his toy collection, he was even more proud of his grandchildren. He enjoyed attending their events, having fun with them on holidays, and looked forward to seeing them at the annual summer gatherings at the Flaherty Farm.
Tom is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kay, Elma (Lourdes), Iowa; five children, Jerry Flaherty (fiancé Kimbery Dalluge Barlow) of Mason City, IA, Jeff Flaherty of Mason City, IA, Jon (Cyndy) Flaherty of Kansas City, MO, Jodi (Steve) Fisher of St. Mary’s, IA, and Joei (Shad) Heinzerling of Mason City, IA; Nine Grandchildren, Jordan and Tanner Flaherty, Tyler (fiancé Megan Falls) and Mackenzie Flaherty, Kaylyn, Jenna, and Sydney Fisher, Avery and Isabel Heinzerling; Sister, Catherine (Ron) Hageman, Calmar, IA; Brother, Bob Flaherty, Lourdes, IA; Brother-in-law: Larry (Beth) Gardner, FL; Sister-in-law, Pat Lepa, Lime Springs, IA; Brother-In-law: Dan (Diane) Gardner, Elma, IA; and many nieces and nephews.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mildred Flaherty; Parents-in-law: Fred and Joey Gardner; sisters, Dorothy (Mike) Poshusta and Lorraine (Ed Polansky), Sister-In-law: Janet Flaherty, and Brother-in-law, Roger Lepa.
Source: Conway-Markham Funeral Home database
Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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