John Thomas Obituary

John William Thomas
John William Thomas

March 15, 1936 - August 17, 2024
Born in Barnes City, Iowa
Resided in Dallas Center, Iowa
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Obituary

John William Thomas, 88, of Dallas Center, Iowa passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center.

John was born on March 15, 1936, in Barnes City, Iowa. He was the son of Rex and Mary (Mattix) Thomas and grew up on an active dairy farm raising corn, soybeans, Jersey cattle, hogs, and sheep. He graduated from the New Sharon High school in 1954. On February 19, 1955, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Shirley Van Gorp.

As a newly married couple, John and Shirley headed to Ames, Iowa where he continued his education at Iowa State University and obtained his Dairy Science degree in 1959. John took a job with Brenton Brothers Farms in Dallas Center and they set up their home and began to raise their family. They had three children Mike, Roger and Lori.

John worked as the Farm Manager for Brenton Brothers Farms for over 35 years until his retirement in 1996. A true farmer never really retires, so John continued to do what he loved - he farmed, raised livestock, and sold crop insurance.

Community involvement was very important to John. He was the Charter President of the Dallas Center Jaycees where he served for many years. He was also an active member of the Dallas County Farm Bureau, Dallas County Pork Board, Dallas County Cattlemen’s Board, and he served for three years as a director on the Dallas County Home Board. He served for 21 years on the Xenia Rural Water Board, and also served as interim Mayor in Dallas Center for one year. Lastly, he was one of the founding members of the Dallas Center Grimes Education Foundation and its establishment in 2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley, infant son Roger, his three brothers, Ernie, Dean and Earl, and his sister Vera Minenga.

John is survived by a son Mike (Lori) Thomas of Dallas Center and a daughter Lori Cirks of Waukee and four grandchildren, JW Thomas, Dustin Thomas, Clara Cirks and Christian Cirks.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. at the Iles Brandt Chapel in Dallas Center. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Dallas Center with burial to follow at the Brethren Cemetery in rural Dallas Center.

Memorials may be directed to the Dallas Center Grimes Education Foundation or to the Spurgeon Manor Activities Department.

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Services

Visitation
Iles Brandt Chapel
1301 Ash Street
Dallas Center, IA US 50063
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Service
First Presbyterian Church
1204 13th Street
Dallas Center, Iowa Dallas 50063
Thursday, August 22, 2024
10:30 AM
Burial
Brethren Cemetery, Dallas Center, Iowa
S Ave
Dallas Center, IA US 50063
Thursday, August 22, 2024