Thorson, Thomas "Tom" Jr. 1924-2011

THORSON, JACKSON, LEWIS, EICHACKER, HERMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/5/2015 at 12:34:25

Thomas Thorson Jr.
Clive

Thomas "Tom" Thorson Jr., 86, formerly of Windsor Heights and Newton, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center - West Lakes, in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, at First Christian Church. Cremation rites will follow the services on Tuesday. Private committal services will take place at a later date at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel.

Tom was born September 14, 1924 in Newton to Thomas and Florence (Jackson) Thorson. He graduated from Newton High School in 1942. He attended the University of Iowa, the University of Dubuque, Marquette University, and graduated from Drake University in 1947. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He was honored to be a member of the Navy and enjoyed telling stories about his naval career to his friends and family.

He married Wilma Lewis on June 12, 1949 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. After his service in the Navy, he worked at the Newton YMCA and later at the Des Moines YMCA as the Assistant Physical Director. He then spent 18 years as an Advertising Salesman for the Des Moines Register and Tribune.

Tom loved animals of all kinds and enjoyed the Iowa State Fair's exhibits of horses, rabbits and farm animals. He raised a champion Springer Spaniel and won many awards at dog shows, as well as winning many blue ribbons at rabbit shows for the Silver Martens he raised with his sons. He also enjoyed listening to country music, and was involved as a Boy Scout leader while his sons were growing up and helped them to attain the Eagle Scout rank.

He was also an avid sports fan and followed the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Drake Bulldogs. He himself was an athlete and played football in high school and ran track for both the University of Iowa and Drake. He also played semi-pro football for the West Des Moines Warriors.He was a member of First Christian Church, the Urbandale American Legion, the Register & Tribune Retirees Club and the Home Lodge.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Wilma Thorson; daughter, Jodi Eichacker and her husband, Scott of Urbandale; two sons, Rick Thorson and his wife, Sara of Lincoln, NE and Tom Thorson of Norwalk; brother, Bob Thorson of Newton; four grandchildren, Jessie Herman and her husband, Thompson of Maywood, NE, Jamie Thorson of Lincoln, and Jordan and Cole Eichacker of Urbandale; and one great-grandson, Brinson Herman of Maywood.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; and sister-in-law, LaVonne Thorson.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 16, at Iles Funeral Homes - Westover Chapel in Des Moines.Memorials may be directed to First Christian Church, 2500 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311. ~ The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA Mon 16 May 2011.