THOME, Ralph John 1921-2016

THOME, FAAS, GERHARTZ, YOUNG

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/10/2016 at 15:19:21

Ralph Thome

Died September 10, 2016

Ralph John Thome, age 95, of Osage, died Saturday, September, 10, 2016, at the Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage with Father Raymond Burkle officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 19, 2016, at Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage with a vigil service at 6:00 p.m. A Knights of Columbus rosary will follow the vigil service.

Ralph was born May 16, 1921, on the family farm near Meyer, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Rosina (Faas) Thome. He attended school in Meyer. Ralph was united in marriage to Mildred Gerhartz on September 14, 1944, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer.

Ralph and Mildred were just a few days away from celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary.

He was a farmer who milked cows for 30 years and then worked for the Mitchell County Highway Department, until he retired in 1987. Ralph was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. After his retirement, he assisted in various ways at church services and was known to usher at many funerals. Ralph was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed gardening, bowling, reading, watching westerns, playing cards, and family gatherings. Ralph’s favorite saying during family gatherings or prayer was, “Thank God for family!”

Ralph is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mildred Thome of Osage; eight children, Chuck (Diane) Thome of Mason City, Allan (Karel) Thome of Mason City, Mary Rose (Ken) Benson of Mason City, Tim (Colleen) Thome of Columbus, Ohio, Tom (Karen) Thome of Osage, Elaine Schwab of Osage, Jim (Rhonda) Thome of Plymouth and Laurie (Mark) Lichty of Dunkerton; 24 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; nine great-great- grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marjorie Mayer, Imelda (Vernon) Mayer, Lorena (Ray) Panhoff, and Emile (Wayne) Gerlach; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Thome, Arlene Thome, Kathleen (Joe) Freund, Mary Helen French, and Cindy Dailey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Allan Thome II; sister, Mary Young; brothers, Joe Thome and Ben Thome; son-in-law, Ron Schwab; brothers-in-law, Gene Mayer, Tony Young, Larry Hayungs, Jim French and Jack Dailey.

Champion - Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, 641-732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website