Charles E. Thomas

Charles E. Thomas, 53, passed away Saturday, June 12, 1993 at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Charles was born April 15, 1940, in Ottumwa, Iowa.  The son of Walter and Edith A. Leeling Thomas. He attended and graduated from Ottumwa High School.  He also attended college in Missouri.

He was united in marriage on October 30, 1971 to Lois Jennings in Greene, Iowa.  The couple made their home in Osage employed by various Mechanical Engineering Companies, such as the Elevator Contractors Company in Des Moines.  In 1983 they moved to Crystal Lake, where he owned and operated the CL Hardware Store.  Due to ill health, he retired in 1985.

He was a member of the Crystal Lake Fire Department and served as past Fire Chief, also past president of the Crystal Lake Emergency Medical Services.  He was active in various community activities.

Survivors include his wife, Lois M. Thomas, Crystal Lake, Iowa; two sons: Richard and his wife, Karen thomas of Cary, North Carolina and Kenneth and his wife, Ruth Heller of Austin, Minnesota; four daughters: Cindy and her husband, Duane Caroon of Hibbing, Minnesota, Anne and her husband, Greg Brandt of Woden, Iowa, Sandy and her husband, Matt Weisen of Salt Point, New York, Tammy and her husband, Terry Blum of Bertrand, Nebraska; his parents Walter and Edith Thomas of Ottumwa; two sisters, Ann and her husband, Keith Kropf of Ottumwa and Norma Jean Van Den Huvel of Ankeny, iowa; ten grandchildren: Trinity, Kristin, Opal, Jason, Justin, Nicole, Courtney, Jamie, Charlie, Mitchell and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.