DUFFY, Thomas (1937-2022)

DUFFY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/29/2023 at 17:22:14

Thomas Duffy
(June 12, 1937 - December 6, 2022)

Thomas Duffy finally met one obstacle hard work and a lifetime of learning could not overcome. He passed away on December 6, 2022.
Tom was born in Pontiac, Illinois, to Hugh and Monica Duffy on June 12, 1937, where he was raised on the family farm with his three siblings, Kathleen, Hugh, and Dennis. Tom left the farm to join the Marine Corps in June 1955. He took a bus to Camp Pendleton, California; it was only his second time leaving the State of Illinois. While serving, Tom participated in the Atom Bomb Tests. He was in the trenches in Nevada when an atomic bomb was detonated nearby. Even with being doused with radiation, Tom was proud to serve and reminisced fondly about his service. Tom credits the Marine Corps with instilling him with a lifetime of self-discipline. After four years in the Marines, Tom graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. Tom married the love of his life Cathy (Flannery) Duffy on June 19, 1965, in Montrose, South Dakota. The early years of their marriage were busy with moving as Tom advanced in his career in the grain merchandising industry and raising their four children, Patrick, Jeanne, Carrie, and Shannon. They lived in Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and finally, Indianola, Iowa, where Tom and Cathy have called home for the last 41 years. Tom had several successful careers. He started in grain merchandising. Then farmed-- raising pigs full-time. In his 50s, he went back to school to study computer programming. He was hired in the late 1990s by ING to update computer programs in response to the Y2K date field issue. He retired from ING as a computer programmer in 2004. Tom didn’t do anything halfway, including his hobbies. Over the years, he was committed to model trains, woodworking and collecting planes, beekeeping, hiking, and birding, just to name a few. Each hobby required extensive new equipment that he saved for future use. He was a voracious reader. He could not leave home without a briefcase full of books and magazines. Tom’s four children each exhibit habits they acquired from him. Patrick has an extensive collection of farm equipment and tools, Jeanne travels with books, Carrie hikes, and Shannon has his love of animals. Tom was a devoted grandfather. After retiring, he watched his grandkids in the summer and kept a small herd of horses for the grandkids to ride. He was a supportive Dad and Grandfather of 4H projects. He was extremely proud when Shannon won Grand Champion Pig, and his granddaughters won both Grand and Reserve Champion Poultry several times at the Warren County Fair. It was almost like he won. Tom was a lifelong devoted Catholic and a member of St. Thomas Aquinas parish for 41 years. He was active in the Knights of Columbus with fellowship and service projects. He chaired the building committee and spearheaded the purchase of the land where the church is currently located.
In retirement, Tom enjoyed spending winters in Mission, Texas, where he and Cathy lived a well-deserved life of leisure--walking, birding, playing games, and making new friends. Tom is survived by his wife, Cathy (Flannery), children Patrick Duffy (Melissa), Jeanne Duffy (Dennis Rhodes), Carrie Nelsen (Shaun), Shannon Duffy, and Valerie Welty (Dan), ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and beloved daughter-in-law Gina Heyland Duffy. A Memorial Mass will be held 3:30 p.m. Friday, December 9, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Indianola. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. Friday with the family greeting friends following the rosary until service time. Inurnment of cremains will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday December 10, 2022 in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Helping Hand Food Bank and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]