Obituary of Thomas Richerson

Thomas Edward Richerson, 86, of Iowa City died peacefully in his sleep on March 23, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with the Reverend Robert Gebel officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4 to 8pm Monday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Thomas’s memory to Pathways. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. He is survived by his wife Helen of 54 years, his daughter Rita, son Thomas Michael and his wife Susan, daughter Pamela Kaefring and her husband Francis, and daughter Dawn Stoddard and her husband Bob, all of Iowa City; grandchildren-Allen, Sharmi, Jana, Nina, Zack, Shane, Kelsie, Karlie, Thomas Brandon, Andrew, Michael and Micahla; great-grandchildren-Anthony, Katelynn, Mateo, Taliah, Payten, Tenley, Sayler, Trevor James, Lillian Joy; brothers-Melvin, Aubrey and Norman; sister-Minerva, all of Alabama, sister Bernice of Tennessee; dog Bailey, who already misses him. Thomas is preceded in death by his father Thomas and his mother Emma; brother-Calvin; sisters-Norma Jean and Alvin, all of Alabama; his dog, Bandit. Thomas and Helen were married in Nashawa, New Hampshire on April 7, 1951. They made their home in Fort Devons, Massachusetts. At age 19, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corp in Washington State. He served in the U.S. Army for twenty years, stationed in Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado and France. He served in WWII and retired from the service in 1963. Thomas and his family settled in Iowa City, where he worked at the Amana Woolen Mill. He retired from the Mill to help run the family’s business with his wife. Thomas went by grandpa to most everyone. Grandpa was a very happy man, always joking, always with a smile and simply a joy to know. We’ll miss you grandpa! Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Thomas’s family and his services.