James L. Thomas

James LeRoy Thomas, 82, of Mason City, died Monday, November 27, 2006 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. A funeral service will be held 10:30 AM Thursday (November 30, 2006) at Our Saviour?s Lutheran Church, 2502 South Jefferson Ave. with the Rev. Jack Gannett and Rev. Ed Bard officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be held from 4 ? 6 PM Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Hospice of North Iowa or the Salvation Army. James was born February 2, 1924 in Henning, MN the son of Roy E. and Regina (Myre) Thomas. The family moved to Mason City where he attended school. While in high school James worked for Mason City Tent and Awning and at the Decker?s Packing Plant. After graduation from Mason City High School in 1943 he joined the US Marines. James served on the USS McClean in the Pacific Theatre until his discharge in 1945. He was employed with the Northwestern Portland Cement Company where he supervised boilers until later becoming an electrician. James was united in marriage to Beverly Niver on October 15, 1949 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They made their home in Mason City where they raised nine children. James life centered around the love he had for his family. He was a very devoted husband, father, and grandpa. He enjoyed gardening, working on cars, woodwork crafting, fishing and pheasant hunting. His greatest passions were his grandchildren and spending time with the family pets, Kally, Dude, Tosha and Gizmo. He was a member of the American Legion Post # 101 and the Master Gardners Club. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Beverly Thomas of Mason City, IA. His children, Carole Pannhoff of Mason City, Sharon Peterson of Mason City, James Thomas of Sioux City, IA, Diann Bonjour and husband Wade of Dows, IA, Robert Thomas and wife Kim of Brookfield, IL, Linda Percy and husband Chuck of Sheffield, IA, Jerry Thomas of Mason City, Gary Thomas of Lake Mills, IA and Timothy Thomas and wife Teresa of Lewistown, PA; grandchildren, Scott Carpenter, Erik Pannhoff, Liz Wood and husband Bob, Paul Anderson Jr., Rich Anderson, Jamie Anderson and wife Jennifer, Nathan Westfall, RaeAnn Thomas, Seth Thomas, Zachary Thomas, Gabriel Percy, Katie Havig and husband Troy, Ben Percy and wife Mindi, Dan Percy, Chris Thomas, Arianna Thomas, Christina Hernandez and husband Travis, Rachael Craighton, Ciera Thomas, Lindsay Thomas, Beverly Thomas, and Jessica Thomas; great grandchildren, Kathelinn, Emma, Christian, Grace, Sabrina, Colby, Dakota, Jamie, Hannah, Makayla, Zachary, Anna, Thane, Matthew and Keaton. James was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Bernice Altom; brother, Sumner Thomas; sister-in-law, Alta Thomas; nephew, Harold Thomas and son-in-laws, Gary A. Peterson and John Pannhoff and grandson, Brandon Thomas.

Visitation:
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on November 29, 2006 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on November 27, 2006 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 PM at 2502 South Jefferson on November 30, 2006 (map/driving directions)