Obituary for John "Jack" Thomas
John "Jack" Thomas, 89, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at Jenkins Living Center.
Private Family Services will be on Monday, November 23, 2020 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown with Pastor Jen Tyler officiating.
A public visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Monday, November 23, 2020 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Pallbearers will be Doug Pederson, Doug Wishard, Todd Becking, Bill Becking, Tim Wishard and Ronda Pommeroy.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Staff at Jenkins Living Center.
John Warren Thomas, son of Epho and Ruby (Welch) Thomas was born on October 24, 1931 at his grandparent's home in Codington County. Jack was the middle child of five. He grew up in Codington County and attended country school near home and Watertown High School. As a farm kid, Jack was expected to do chores, to include driving tractors at the age of 12.
At the age of 17, Jack signed up for the reserves and when he turned 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was assigned with the Secret Service and the Heavy Attack Squadron; the A-Bomb Squadron. This assignment would send him to Africa during the Korean War without even his family knowing where he was stationed. The government required that the A-Bombs to be more than 1000 miles of the nearest conflict of war, hence the Africa location. Jack remained in the Navy for 5 and a half years and was honorably discharged on April 15, 1955.
In the spring of 1955 he met his future bride, Mildred F. Becking, at a square dance. The couple was married on April 8, 1956. Jack and Millie made their life farming for 32 years near Florence, SD, now the current site of Joy Ranch. He owned Jack's Farm Supply and worked at Bichler Motor Company for a couple of years. He then worked at SD Livestock Sales Company for 15 years, Production Credit for 6 years, and finally UBC where he retired after 10 years.
Jack retired by never quit working. He went on to be the County Commissioner for 12 years, 8 of which he was on the state's executive county commissioner's board including posts of secretary and president. Jack couldn't stop there. He was proud to say he was the very first volunteer, for five years, at the previous VA Clinic. Jack was also awarded Honorary Chair of the Watertown Winter Farm Show.
Jack is survived by his sons, Warren (Audrey) Thomas of Watertown, SD, and Keith (Shelley) Thomas of Sioux Falls, SD; 6 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Dorothy Pommeroy of Cedar Rapids, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mildred, two sisters Joyce and Marg, his brother Richard, his in-laws Ed and Nellie Becking, and a brother-in-law, Richard Becking.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Private Family Services will be on Monday, November 23, 2020 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown with Pastor Jen Tyler officiating.
A public visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Monday, November 23, 2020 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Pallbearers will be Doug Pederson, Doug Wishard, Todd Becking, Bill Becking, Tim Wishard and Ronda Pommeroy.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Staff at Jenkins Living Center.
John Warren Thomas, son of Epho and Ruby (Welch) Thomas was born on October 24, 1931 at his grandparent's home in Codington County. Jack was the middle child of five. He grew up in Codington County and attended country school near home and Watertown High School. As a farm kid, Jack was expected to do chores, to include driving tractors at the age of 12.
At the age of 17, Jack signed up for the reserves and when he turned 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was assigned with the Secret Service and the Heavy Attack Squadron; the A-Bomb Squadron. This assignment would send him to Africa during the Korean War without even his family knowing where he was stationed. The government required that the A-Bombs to be more than 1000 miles of the nearest conflict of war, hence the Africa location. Jack remained in the Navy for 5 and a half years and was honorably discharged on April 15, 1955.
In the spring of 1955 he met his future bride, Mildred F. Becking, at a square dance. The couple was married on April 8, 1956. Jack and Millie made their life farming for 32 years near Florence, SD, now the current site of Joy Ranch. He owned Jack's Farm Supply and worked at Bichler Motor Company for a couple of years. He then worked at SD Livestock Sales Company for 15 years, Production Credit for 6 years, and finally UBC where he retired after 10 years.
Jack retired by never quit working. He went on to be the County Commissioner for 12 years, 8 of which he was on the state's executive county commissioner's board including posts of secretary and president. Jack couldn't stop there. He was proud to say he was the very first volunteer, for five years, at the previous VA Clinic. Jack was also awarded Honorary Chair of the Watertown Winter Farm Show.
Jack is survived by his sons, Warren (Audrey) Thomas of Watertown, SD, and Keith (Shelley) Thomas of Sioux Falls, SD; 6 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Dorothy Pommeroy of Cedar Rapids, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mildred, two sisters Joyce and Marg, his brother Richard, his in-laws Ed and Nellie Becking, and a brother-in-law, Richard Becking.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.