WATERLOO — John Phillip Thoma, 90, of Waterloo, died Saturday, Nov. 29, at Friendship Village of natural causes.

He was born Dec. 15, 1917, in Stanford, Neb., son of Phillip John and Josephine Kass Thoma. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Schrader on Nov. 28, 1945, in Norway. She died July 15, 1995.

Mr. Thoma farmed in the area for many years. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy Air Corps Patrol in the Atlantic Theatre. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Waterloo School Board, Parish Council, Knights of Columbus, Area 7, American Legion, AMVETS, Black Hawk County Trustee, Cattle Congress Association, Farm Bureau, East Waterloo Township Trustee and Waterloo Elks Club.

Survived by: two sons, Clement of Cedar Rapids and John (Laurie) of Waterloo; six daughters, Susan (John) Elliott of Ontario, Canada, Dorothy (Lee) Schmitz of Fairfax, Karen (Rick) Carstens of Waterloo, Mary Bronson of Worthington, Nancy (Jim) Monat of Traer and JoAnn (Jason) Murphy of Virginia Beach, Va.; 26 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Leander of Gilbertville, Clyde of Arizona and Joe (Lorraine) of Fort Collins, Colo.; a sister, Bertha (Don) Gibbons of Waterloo; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Thoma of Waterloo.

Preceded in death by: his wife; his parents; a grandson, Joseph; two brothers, Nester (Emma) and Roland; three sisters, Sr. Josephine Thoma, Sara Thoma and Margaret (Les) Simmons; a son-in-law, Joe Bronson; and two sisters-in-law, Augusta Thoma and Cecilia Thoma.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Queen of Peace Catholic Church with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Full military rites will be conducted by Waterloo AMVETS Post 19 and Evansdale AMVETS Post 31. Public visitation from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street, where there will be a 4 p.m. Catholic Order of Foresters rosary and 7 p.m. vigil service. Visitation also for an hour before services Wednesday at the church.

Memorials: may be directed to the church, Friendship Village or Columbus High School.

Condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.

 

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