Gerald A. Thomas

Gerald Anthony "Jerry" Thomas, age 80 of Belle Plaine and formerly of Rochester, MN, passed away on May 4, 2016 at Kingsway Retirement Living in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be at 10am on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Union Hill, MN. Memorial Mass will follow at 11am. Interment will be at a later date in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Jerry was born in Le Sueur County on December 28, 1935 to Claire and Frances (Simonett) Thomas. He grew up in Cleveland, MN. He joined the United States Army in 1955 serving for 4 years. He married Mary Lenz on February 11, 1961 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Union Hill, MN. The couple lived in Austin, MN for a short time where he worked at Tempo Dept. store as an auto mechanic. They later bought a house in Brownsdale, MN. The family then moved to Sargeant, MN after he began work with Larson Products. They later moved to Rochester, MN where Jerry worked for Coldwell Banker-Burnet Realty doing service work. Jerry and Mary moved to Belle Plaine, MN in the fall of 2015. Jerry enjoyed being an American Legion member, dancing, fishing, hunting, playing cards, playing the lottery, woodworking, gardening, watching the Minnesota Vikings and NASCAR. He was most proud of his military service and being a part of the American Legion. Memorials are preferred to the Disabled American Veterans. He is survived by his wife Mary; Children, Audrey Thomas of Denver, CO; Barb (Michael) McClure of Pine Island, MN; Jacqueé Thomas of Topeka, KS; Tony (Ellie Skelton) Thomas of Minneapolis, MN and Laura Thomas of Rochester, MN. Grandchildren; Darin & Nicolle Groteboer, Cedar & Zander Thomas, Angelina Pyo, Marissa & Kendra McClure. Great-grandchildren; Jackson & Annesly Groteboer, Brooks Scavio and Julian Pyo. Siblings; Pat (Harold) Hobday of St. Peter, MN; Kathleen (Lenny) Tiede of Montgomery, MN and Janet (Roger) Krenik of Mankato, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings; Rita Minars, Ruth Leighton, his twin sister Joan Glynn, Jim Thomas, Jack Thomas and Mary Coughlan.