Thomas Elmore BALL

BALL, MCKEEVER, SWANSON, HERNANDEZ, PELTON, CAHALAN, YRIARTE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/13/2008 at 11:19:32

Thomas Elmore Ball, 64, of Sutherland, formerly of Linn Grove, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at the Church of Christ in Sutherland. Rev. Don Gordon will officiate the service. Interment will take place at Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove. Military services will be conducted by the American Legion - Lowe Peterson No. 0367 of Linn Grove.

Thomas passed away Friday, March 28, 2008, at Spencer Hospital. Thomas was born on May 10, 1943, in Spencer. He was the youngest of Theodore and Velma Ball's six children. At the young age of 11, Tom began working for local farmers to earn money for his own necessities. Tom was also an extraordinary athlete and competed at the state track meet for three years. Tom and Jackie were classmates from first grade through their high school graduation in 1962. In 1963, Tom joined the United States Army. He served as an MP in Korea. He was later stationed in San Antonio, Texas where he had the responsibility of guarding aircraft reserved for the transportation of military and civilian personnel among whom included the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. After being discharged from the Army, Tom worked for a local farmer milking cows.

He married his true love, Jacqueline Mary McKeever, on Aug. 27, 1967. His first job was for the Mobil fertilizer company in Everly. From there, he got a job with the Co-op Elevator in Linn Grove delivering gas and feed. He then worked for a plumber out of Peterson for a couple of years. Tom began working for Crescent Electric Supply Company in Spencer as a counter salesman. They moved to Spencer in 1973. He later became the "on the road" salesman. Tom worked with Crescent for 27 years. He was well thought of by the customers he called on and kept in touch with several of them until his death. Tom and Jackie's dream came true in the spring of 1989 when they purchased an acreage in rural Linn Grove. In the year 2000, Tom and Jackie held their auction, they moved to Eagle Grove and lived there for three years. From there, they moved to Sutherland, where they have been living ever since. They were members of the Church of Christ where they instantly felt at home. On Independence Day, 2005, Tom was visited by U.S. Congressman Steve King, and presented with his much anticipated National Defense Medal and Sharp Shooter Badge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers: Teddy and Oliver. Thomas is survived by his wife, Jackie of Sutherland; two daughters: Michelle Swanson of Hawarden; Andrea Hernandez and husband, Cesar, of Windom, Minn.; son, Josh Ball and wife, Carrie of Sutherland; seven grandchildren; brother, Dale and wife, Mary of Chino Hills, Calif.; sister, Lil Pelton and husband, Rich of Montague, Calif.; brother, Ed and wife, Jean of Greenville; sister in-law, Jill Yriarte of Fort Dodge; brother in-law, Jerry McKeever and wife, Minnie of Sioux Rapids; and sister in-law, Jeanette Cahalan and husband, Dick of Eagle Grove.

April 1, 2008
© 2008 Spencer Daily Reporter, Iowa