Obituary of Gary D. Thomas

Gary Dean Thomas of West Branch, Iowa passed away on June 2, 2022 at the age of 75.

A memorial visitation will be held 4 to 6 P.M. Friday, June 17, 2022 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Memorial service will be held 10 A.M. Saturday June 18, 2022 at the funeral home. Inurnment with military honors will be in Honey Grove Cemetery, West Branch.

Gary was born on August 31, 1946, in West Branch to C.D. and Mavis Wren Thomas.  He graduated from West Branch High School in 1965 and attended Iowa State University.  He served honorably in the United States Army from 1969 – 1972 including one year in Vietnam. 

Gary spent his entire career at Proctor and Gamble, where he worked for 27 years, before leaving at the young age of 52.  This gave him many years to enjoy life and the things he loved like sports and travel.  He was an avid fisherman and was always up for a fishing trip to Canada, Lake Michigan or any other river, lake or pond.  Gary loved to cook and bake and was known for his homemade caramels and candies. 

Gary was passionate about nature, especially the acreage he created over the past 45 years, which now overflows with trees, flowers and birds. It brought him much happiness. 

In 2009 Gary married Barbara (Nidey) Thomas.  They enjoyed traveling, day trips and spending time with family and friends.  They often traveled out east to visit his daughters and grandchildren and loved when they could catch the grandkids playing sports. 

Family was everything to Gary and his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy.  Gary is survived by his wife, Barbara, his daughters Angie Konetzni (Josh) of Glen Ridge, NJ and Erica Thomas of New York City.  He leaves behind 2 grandchildren, Zach and Ayla Konetzni of Glen Ridge, step-sons Ryan (Sarah) Nidey of Tiffin and Chris Nidey of Iowa City, a sister, Brenda Nosbish and brother, Larry Thomas.  Gary was proceeded in death by his parents. 

Memorial donations in Gary's memory made be made to:

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 

Persons could either donate by check cash or go online and donate in Gary's memory   https://secure.dav.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30110a?df_id=18815&mfc_pref=T&18815.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=1C58EA5C988C0750083C2F7D127369C5

or

Iowa Department of Natural Resources   

One is by using online donation option at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/donations/ where donors can choose the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund category. After clicking the FWTF "Donate Now" link, the system will ask for their information and there is also a place to insert Gary's name under "In Memory Of."  

Another is by submitting a check to the IA DNR noting "FWTF donation in memory of Gary Thomas."