Thomas Frances Lonsdale (1948-2017)

LONSDALE, CALLAHAN, DRAKE, RAINWATER, PETERS, MELANDER

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Stevens Memorial Chapel obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Thomas Frances Lonsdale was born September 13, 1948 in Minneapolis, MN. He was chosen and adopted on December 3, 1948 in Minneapolis, MN by Richard Edward Lonsdale and Marion Marcella Callahan Lonsdale. A very treasured day in all of their lives. He passed away on October 17, 2017 at home in Ames, Iowa.

Tom grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Benilde High School in St. Louis Park, MN. He completed his formal education at the University of Great Falls, now Providence University in Great Falls, Montana. He was raised in the Catholic faith and was a member of Toastmasters Club # 75 in Minneapolis.

Tom has been employed in a number of different roles during his life. He was a school teacher at his alma mater, Benilde and was instrumental in bringing newspapers into the classroom with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and in Memphis, TN, and owned his video production company in Billings, MT. In 1997, he moved to Ames, IA and has been employed in construction work and handyman work.

His move to Ames was motivated by his desire to be near his now wife, Sharon Krull Drake. They were married on September 25, 1999 in Ames, Iowa.

Tom will be remembered by his friends and Ames family as not only a handyman, but a very kind and caring individual who spend a great deal of his own time and resources in helping others who were less fortunate. More than one time, he found an old car that needed some fixing, repaired it and gave it to someone who needed transportation. When he saw someone in need and he could help he was willing to do so.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Krull Drake, son, Anthony Lonsdale of Faribault, MN, daughter, Susan Lonsdale Rainwater (Mark) and children of Seattle, WA, Step daughters, Kathryn Drake Peters (Eric), of Ankeny, Anne Drake (John Schwartz) of River Forest, IL, Step granddaughters Claire and Lauren Peters, Ankeny, Sister, Jean Melander (Tom) of Apple Valley, MN and nephew Mike Melander (Lindsey, Alice and Aiden) of Farmington, MN., and numerous cousins and friends. Tom's extended family was very near and important to him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Marcella Lonsdale, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Celebration of Tom's life will be held at Stevens Memorial Chapel on October 21. Visitation with the family will be from 10:30 a.m. until Noon. A celebration service will follow for those who want to share in remembering Tom in their own way.

Memorial gifts or contributions should be directed to the Bliss Cancer Center in Ames, IA.

http://www.stevensmemorialchapel.com/
 

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