Gerald “Butch” Edward Thoman
Gerald “Butch” Edward Thoman
Norway
Our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Gerald “Butch” Edward Thoman, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at home on the Thoman Century Farm.
Gerald was born January 15, 1933, in Norway, Iowa to Donald E. and Alma S. (Oftedahl) Thoman. Gerald attended Norway Schools. He was a Private First Class in the United States Army Engineers after attending basic training in Fort Leonard, Missouri. He served our country in Korea from 1953-1955. After returning from Korea, Butch was a lifelong farmer alongside his father, Donald. He was an innovator in farming, being one of the first in the area to switch to 30” rows and had one of the first 4-row combines. Butch was an avid John Deere lover and was known as the best Two-Cylinder John Deere Mechanic in the Norway area. Butch would do anything for anybody. Gerald never married, but legally adopted his niece. They would go on to share many life experiences together as father and daughter. Denise was proud to call him her father! He enjoyed tractors, playing cards, going to farm sales and puttering around on the farm with his son-in-law, Roy. Most of all he cherished watching and helping his granddaughters, and great-granddaughters grow up!
Gerald leaves behind a loving family, including his daughter, Denise (Roy) Schulze; his granddaughters, Kimberly Shanahan, Kelley (Justin) Grim, Margaret (Timothy) Wendel, and Jessica (Zac) Shoemaker; great-granddaughters, Sophia and Elizabeth Wendel, baby Shoemaker on the way and other extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister Dolores Schrader.
Memorials can be made in his honor to the Florence Township Fire Department, Norway, Iowa.
Per Gerald’s wishes a Graveside Service with military rites will be held at Linwood Cemetery outside of Norway on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service assisted the family.
Please share a memory of Butch at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.