Thomas W. McGrath

Thomas W. McGrath

Maynard

Thomas W. McGrath, 81, of Maynard, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Allen Hospital Hospice in Waterloo, Iowa.

Tom was born on March 7, 1941, in Buchanan County, Iowa, the son of Leon M. and Vivian Maxine (Kelly) McGrath. In June 1959, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Sonarman until June 1963. He returned to Iowa and

 started working for Titus Manufacturing. On April 18, 1964, Tom married Linda M. (Oakes) in Preston, Minn. While working full-time and raising his family, he also attended college ultimately earning his bachelor’s degree in education from University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in education from St. Louis University.

Tom grew up on his family’s farm and learned many life skills; Skills he used both while working for Titus Manufacturing and as an Industrial Arts teacher. Tom taught Industrial education at Woodstock High School, Woodstock IL from 1974 until his retirement in 1996. As a teacher and the Head of the Industrial Arts Department, he was well respected by his students, fellow faculty members and administrators. Upon his retirement from teaching, he and Linda moved to Maynard, where he worked as a substitute teacher and spent time tending his yard and large vegetable garden. His great love for his wife Linda was evident through his dedication, love and devotion to her. He deeply loved his children and grandchildren and found much joy in sharing his wood working and gardening skills with them.

Tom is survived by his wife, Linda (Oakes) McGrath; his brother, Ronald (Alice) McGrath; four children, Dana (Jimmy) Whiddon, Chris (Alicia) McGrath, Tony McGrath and Nicole (Jim) Didier; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Leon and Maxine McGrath; his sister, Mary K. (McGrath) Summerville; his brother-in-law, Kevin Summerville; his sister-in-law, Judy McGrath; and his nephew, Bryan McGrath.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated by going to www.alz.org/.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence, Iowa. Burial will be held at Floral Hills Memorial Cemetery in Hazelton, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Reiff Family Center-Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, Iowa.

To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.