Fontana, Thomas Lee 1950-2004

FONTANA, ROOKS, ADREON

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 7/26/2004 at 22:15:50

Thomas Lee Fontana
July 19, 2004

Thomas Lee Fontana, age 54, of 504 Bel Aire Drive, Fairfield, Iowa, was pronounced dead Saturday, July 17, 2004, from a single-car accident at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Tom was born March 27, 1950, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Linn County) to Anthony R. & Marilyn J. Rooks Fontana of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Tom married Janet Adreon on August 11, 1973, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Eddyville, Iowa.

Tom graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1968, where he received numerous football awards as well as being inducted into The Jefferson High School Football Hall of Fame.

Tom then attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, from 1968 to 1971, where he played football for William Penn Statesmen. Tom was named All-Iowa Conference in 1970-1971 and was named the William Penn Booster Club MVP multiple times.

Upon Tom's graduation from William Penn, he taught Social Studies at Tri-County Schools in Thornburg, Iowa, for one year.

He also received is master's degree from Truman State University-Kirksville, Mo.

He was a member of Sigma Phi Sigma Fraternity and Fairfield Elks Lodge 1192.

Tom and Jan have lived in the Fairfield Community since August of 1973. He was a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at the Fairfield Middle School for 31 years. He coached football, boys track and girls basketball for the majority of those years. He coached the 9th Grade Football Team to 36 consecutive victories over 4 1/2 years.

He is survived by his parents, Anthony & Marilyn Fontana of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his wife, Janet and son, Bradley Fontana, of Fairfield; two brothers & spouses, Jeffrey and his wife Deb Fontana of Richland Center, Wisconsin, and Timothy & his wife Donna Fontana of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; along with several nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by two brothers, Steven and Gregory Fontana.

Funeral Services for Thomas L. Fontana will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at the Fairfield Middle School, with the Rev. Stephen Page officiating. Graveside Rites will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at the Cedar Rapids Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The family will begin receiving friends from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Behner Funeral Home.

Prayers for a Christian Wake begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by family Visitation until 8 p.m. at the Behner Funeral Home-Fairfield, Iowa.

The Fontana family is asking that, in lieu of Flowers, memorials be made to the Fairfield High School Boys Track & Field Team and The Fairfield Middle School Library.

Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.

--- Paid obituary ---

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2004