1921
Roger
2014
Roger Morris Thomas
January 8, 1921 — January 22, 2014
Sioux City - Roger M. Thomas, 93, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home under the loving care of the Holy Spirit staff and Hospice of Siouxland.
A celebration of life service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Interment will be at later date.
Roger was born on Jan. 8, 1921, in Vesta, Minn. He was the son of D.L. and Hildred Thomas. He graduated from Clarion (Iowa) High School, where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was always proud that he’d run in the Drake Relays.
He married Jeanne M. Reiter on Aug. 20, 1949, in Pocahontas, Iowa. They lived in Pocahontas and then briefly in Le Mars, Iowa, before moving to their home in Sioux City in 1955. Roger and Jeanne were married for almost 60 years when Jeanne passed away in 2009. Roger worked for the Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) of the USDA as an engineering tech until his retirement in 1983.
Roger served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 1942 through 1946. Staff Sgt. Thomas, a medic, was stationed in Italy for air combat in France, Rhineland, the Balkans and Apennines. He was awarded the Soldiers Medal for Heroism and Valor, "at great risk of death or injury to himself," he pulled injured crew members from the burning wreckage of a B-24 bomber amid flames, live bombs and exploding .50-caliber ammunition. In addition, he was awarded eight Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
Roger enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapshooting, golf, playing cards and casinos. He loved spending time with family and friends and was especially involved in his grandsons' lives.
He is survived by his children, Bruce (Chrissy) of Sioux City, Brian (Jeanette) of Marion, Iowa, and Barbara of Galesburg, Ill.; his grandsons, Chad (Melanie) of Waterloo, Iowa, and Grant (Rebecca) of Liberty, Ohio; his great-granddaughter, Tori of Liberty; his sister, Elner Pehl, of Austin, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne; his parents; his brother, Gordon; and his sisters, Phyllis Stewart and Delores Scott.
A celebration of life service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Interment will be at later date.
Roger was born on Jan. 8, 1921, in Vesta, Minn. He was the son of D.L. and Hildred Thomas. He graduated from Clarion (Iowa) High School, where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was always proud that he’d run in the Drake Relays.
He married Jeanne M. Reiter on Aug. 20, 1949, in Pocahontas, Iowa. They lived in Pocahontas and then briefly in Le Mars, Iowa, before moving to their home in Sioux City in 1955. Roger and Jeanne were married for almost 60 years when Jeanne passed away in 2009. Roger worked for the Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) of the USDA as an engineering tech until his retirement in 1983.
Roger served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 1942 through 1946. Staff Sgt. Thomas, a medic, was stationed in Italy for air combat in France, Rhineland, the Balkans and Apennines. He was awarded the Soldiers Medal for Heroism and Valor, "at great risk of death or injury to himself," he pulled injured crew members from the burning wreckage of a B-24 bomber amid flames, live bombs and exploding .50-caliber ammunition. In addition, he was awarded eight Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
Roger enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapshooting, golf, playing cards and casinos. He loved spending time with family and friends and was especially involved in his grandsons' lives.
He is survived by his children, Bruce (Chrissy) of Sioux City, Brian (Jeanette) of Marion, Iowa, and Barbara of Galesburg, Ill.; his grandsons, Chad (Melanie) of Waterloo, Iowa, and Grant (Rebecca) of Liberty, Ohio; his great-granddaughter, Tori of Liberty; his sister, Elner Pehl, of Austin, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne; his parents; his brother, Gordon; and his sisters, Phyllis Stewart and Delores Scott.
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