BOB THOMAS

OTTUMWA, Iowa- A visitation and memorial service was held at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa for Robert Neil Thomas, 94, Ottumwa, who died Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society – Ottumwa. The body has been cremated.

Inurnment will be in Howell Cemetery in Milford, Mo., at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Kathy; a son, Randy Thomas, Ottumwa; three daughters, Nancy Benson and husband Tony, Ames, Julie Reed and husband Brian, Bellevue and Jennifer Keith and husband Bill, Ottumwa; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and a sister, Beverly Lucas, Lamar, Mo.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Wanda Wootton.

Mr. Thomas was born Aug. 4, 1928, in Milford, Mo., to Elmer and Eva (Boles) Thomas. He married Kathryn Robeen on August 4, 1956, in Kansas City, Mo.

Growing up in Lamar, Mo., he was a 1946 graduate of Lamar High School. He served in the US Army in Korea during the Korean War and receive four Bronze Stars, the Korean War Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He was a train engineer on the Milwaukee and Soo Line for 46 years, retiring from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1992.

Mr. Thomas was a member of the East End Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa. He was an avid bowler and golfer and was a member of the senior golf league at Cedar Creek. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, word games and watching game shows. He loved animals, especially his dogs and cats.