Official Obituary of
Richard L. "Dick" Thuma
January 31, 1927 ~ March 11, 2016 (age 89) 89 Years Old
Richard Thuma Obituary
Richard L. "Dick" Thuma, 89, of Iowa City and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Briarwood Health Care Center in Iowa City.
A Memorial Celebration of Life service for Dick Thuma will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 16 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Friends may greet the family 1 hour prior to the service at the church. A time of fellowship and a luncheon will be served in the church's Fellowship Hall immediately following the memorial service. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Richard Leroy "Dick" Thuma was born January 31, 1927 in Hays, Kansas. He was the son of Clarence Ellsworth and Edith (Geesling) Thuma. He graduated from Hiawatha (Kansas) High School and enrolled at Kansas State College in Manhattan. After one semester and just before his 18th birthday, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sent to the Great Lakes Training Station in Chicago and then to the Naval Training School in Farragut, ID. Upon completing encephalographic training, he was stationed at the San Leando naval Hospital in San Francisco. Upon his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Kansas State and graduated in 1950.
Dick continued his education as he was accepted into the Agronomy Dept. at Iowa State University. He was conferred with his Master's Degree in 1952. The Iowa State Extension Service hired him as a youth assistant in Adair County, and in 1953, he became the Extension Director of Union County at Creston. On April 18, 1953 in Donnellson, IA, Richard was united in marriage to Nancy Carol Redfern.
In 1958, Henry County hired Dick as the ISU Extension Director, a position he held for 31 years. In retirement, he spent summers as a crop inspector for Pioneer Seed Company. Dick and Nancy moved to Iowa City in 2002 to be near family.
Mr. Thuma was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and a current member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Iowa City. He was a former member of the Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club. Dick had served on the Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board and was a past president of the board. He was a member of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA0 from whom, in recognition to his service to Henry County, received the Distinguished Service Award. Dick enjoyed flowers, especially roses, iris and the beautiful hostas he raised. Dick and Nancy traveled often, going to national parks, Sanibel Island, FL and attending Elderhostels.
Those thankful for sharing in Dick's life include his wife of 62 years, Nancy of Iowa City; 3 daughters - Jane Woline of Ames, IA, Susan Rew and her husband Terry of Iowa City and Ann Thuma of Iowa City; a sister - Mary Lou Carpenter and her husband Dewey of Kansas City, KS; 11 grandchildren - Emily (Perry) Miller of Greensburg, PA; Laura (Zach) Setmire of Brookline, NH; Linnea (Nicholas) Hall of Deerfield, MA; Ben (Tigon) Woline of Ankeny; Chris (Tara) Rew of San Antonio, TX; Katelyn, Corey and Jeremy Rew, all of Iowa City; Lynn (Dan) Sedam and Matthew Riley, all of Blaine, MN and Beth (Drew) Scholefield of Sierra Vista, AZ; 13 great grandchildren - Ellie, Ethan, Elijah and Ehren Miller; William, Thomas and Michael Setmire; Riorden and Mirela Woline; Gabriel Sedam and Patrick, Ayla and Xander Scholefield.
His parents precede Dick in death.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Rowe Sand Hill Crane Sanctuary in Gibbon, NE, the Heifer Project International or Midwest Old Threshers. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com
309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
A Memorial Celebration of Life service for Dick Thuma will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 16 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Friends may greet the family 1 hour prior to the service at the church. A time of fellowship and a luncheon will be served in the church's Fellowship Hall immediately following the memorial service. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Richard Leroy "Dick" Thuma was born January 31, 1927 in Hays, Kansas. He was the son of Clarence Ellsworth and Edith (Geesling) Thuma. He graduated from Hiawatha (Kansas) High School and enrolled at Kansas State College in Manhattan. After one semester and just before his 18th birthday, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sent to the Great Lakes Training Station in Chicago and then to the Naval Training School in Farragut, ID. Upon completing encephalographic training, he was stationed at the San Leando naval Hospital in San Francisco. Upon his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Kansas State and graduated in 1950.
Dick continued his education as he was accepted into the Agronomy Dept. at Iowa State University. He was conferred with his Master's Degree in 1952. The Iowa State Extension Service hired him as a youth assistant in Adair County, and in 1953, he became the Extension Director of Union County at Creston. On April 18, 1953 in Donnellson, IA, Richard was united in marriage to Nancy Carol Redfern.
In 1958, Henry County hired Dick as the ISU Extension Director, a position he held for 31 years. In retirement, he spent summers as a crop inspector for Pioneer Seed Company. Dick and Nancy moved to Iowa City in 2002 to be near family.
Mr. Thuma was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and a current member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Iowa City. He was a former member of the Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club. Dick had served on the Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board and was a past president of the board. He was a member of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA0 from whom, in recognition to his service to Henry County, received the Distinguished Service Award. Dick enjoyed flowers, especially roses, iris and the beautiful hostas he raised. Dick and Nancy traveled often, going to national parks, Sanibel Island, FL and attending Elderhostels.
Those thankful for sharing in Dick's life include his wife of 62 years, Nancy of Iowa City; 3 daughters - Jane Woline of Ames, IA, Susan Rew and her husband Terry of Iowa City and Ann Thuma of Iowa City; a sister - Mary Lou Carpenter and her husband Dewey of Kansas City, KS; 11 grandchildren - Emily (Perry) Miller of Greensburg, PA; Laura (Zach) Setmire of Brookline, NH; Linnea (Nicholas) Hall of Deerfield, MA; Ben (Tigon) Woline of Ankeny; Chris (Tara) Rew of San Antonio, TX; Katelyn, Corey and Jeremy Rew, all of Iowa City; Lynn (Dan) Sedam and Matthew Riley, all of Blaine, MN and Beth (Drew) Scholefield of Sierra Vista, AZ; 13 great grandchildren - Ellie, Ethan, Elijah and Ehren Miller; William, Thomas and Michael Setmire; Riorden and Mirela Woline; Gabriel Sedam and Patrick, Ayla and Xander Scholefield.
His parents precede Dick in death.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Rowe Sand Hill Crane Sanctuary in Gibbon, NE, the Heifer Project International or Midwest Old Threshers. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com
Family Present to Greet Friends
MAR 16. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CDT)
First United Methodist Church309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
Service
MAR 16. 11:00 AM (CDT)
First United Methodist Church309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
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