Thorson, Mac Donald 1922 - 1988

THORSON, GADD, HUMMEL

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/29/2011 at 21:25:17

Mac Donald Thorson, 66, lifelong resident of Akron, pharmacist and owner of Thorson Drug in Akron, died Saturday (Sept. 24, 1988) in an Iowa City hospital after being stricken following the Iowa Hawkeye- Iowa State football game. Mac, even though his health has not been good the past few years, rarely missed Hawkeye games. He and his wife, Joyce, both loyal Hawkeye fans, were in Iowa City attending the game when he became ill during the fourth quarter and was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 29) in Wesley United Methodist church in Akron. Rev. Tim Mason will officiate.. Soloist, Gary Tucker, will sing "The Lord's Prayer" and the hymn "How Great Thou Art" will be sung by the congregation. Organist will be Eric Banks. The recessional will be the "Iowa Fight Song." Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Akron, under direction of Schroeder Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted by Hoschler Post 186, American Legion. A Masonic service was conducted Wednesday evening by Freedom Lodge 434 of Akron in the funeral home. visitation Wednesday was from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m. Pallbearers will be Darrell Boetger, Randall Lilly, Verle Barwick, Curt Lewison, Walt Beggs, and Don Caskey.

Mr. Thorson was born Aug. 7, 1922, in Akron, Iowa, to Edwin 0. and Ethel (Gadd) Thorson. He graduated in 1940 from the Akron High School, where he was active in sports. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1944 at the University of Iowa college of pharmacy. He was affiliated with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Following graduation Mac served two years as a pharmacist in the U.S. navy during World War II. In 1946 he returned to Akron where he owned and operated Thorson Drug. He married Joyce Hummel Aug. 21, 1947 at Westfield.

He was an active member of the Akron,Community Theatre since its inception. He was a member of the ACT board for many years, and served eight years as board president. Mac was a member of Hoschler Post 186, .American Legion, and served as commander; a member of Masonic Freed Lodge 434 of Akron, Abu Bekr Shrine Temple of Sioux City and Big Sioux Shrine club of Akron. He was a member of the Akron Lions club for several years, and served as treasurer. He was an active member and former president of the Akron Commercial club. For more than 40 years he was a member of the Skoonskinners of Akron. He also worked with the Boy Scout program. Mac served as cochairman of the Akron Centennial in 1982.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist church in Akron. A one-in-a lifetime honor for Mac, was when he was named "Fan of the Year" by the University of Iowa during the 1984-85 season. He was a lifetime member of the
Alumni club at the university.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce; two sons, Marc of Akron and Mason of Casper, Wyo.; three daughters, Melinda Thorson of St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. David (Martha) Morin of Akron and Mrs. Scott (Mary Joyce) Ferguson of Gainesville, Fla.; a sister, Naomi Mason of Ames; nine grandchildren, Chris and Tim Thorson, Jennie, Seth and Callie Morin, all of Akron, Nicole and Keith Thorson of Casper, Wyo., and Matthew and Luke Ferguson of Gainesville, Fla.; two nieces, Sue Ann Willms and Marcia Benna; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Albert and Opal Hummel of Bella Vista, Ark.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials will be given to the Ye Olde Opera House.

***
Mac, highly respected in the Akron community, will be missed by his family and his many friends.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, September 29, 1988
Akron, Iowa