Lester Fred Thoms (1918-1993)

THOMS, EHLERS, WARNKE

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 8/29/2021 at 00:17:42

Lester Fred Thoms, the son of Henry and Margaret Ehlers Thoms, was born March 6, 1918, in Calumet, Iowa. He attended school at Calumet and graduated from Calumet High School in 1935.

He was a farm hand around Calumet until April, 1942, when he was drafted to the Army Air Force of World War II. He spent most of his time in the Aleutian Islands. He received an Honorable Discharge on April 14,1945.

On April 26, 1945, he was united in marriage to Ann Lorraine Warnke in Sioux City, Iowa. He worked at the Calumet elevator until 1947, and then attended Barber College in Sioux City. After graduating, he worked in Paullina as a barber until 1970, when he was forced to retire because of health problems.

Lester was confirmed and a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. He was a member of the American Legion Post, the V.F.W. and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Lester passed away at the Veteran Nursing Home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on June 16, 1993, at the age of 75 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Lester is survived by his wife, Ann Lorraine of Paullina; a son, Dennis and his wife, Becky; and a grandson, Derek, all of Mason City; two nephews and one niece.

Sutherland Courier 24 June 1993