Robert L. “Bob” Thomas April 6, 1941 – Dec. 6, 2018

      Robert L. “Bob” Thomas, 77, of Monticello, Iowa and formerly of Maquoketa, passed away on Thursday morning, Dec. 6, 2018, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Monticello, Iowa.

      Friends and family may gather in remembrance of “Bob” from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.  Immediately following the gathering, the family invites all friends and relatives to share in One Last Party® for “Bob” beginning at 7 p.m. in “The Bistro” at Carson’s.  Cremation rites have been accorded and a private burial will be held from the Union Cemetery, rural Maquoketa.

      Robert Lee Thomas was born on April 6, 1941 in Appleton, Wis. to Edward and Melva (Quelle) Thomas.  He grew up in Appleton and graduated from Appleton West High School in 1959.  He married Karen Schulze on Aug. 4, 1962 in Appleton, Wis.

      After high school, “Bob” worked as stock boy for Woolworth’s Department Store and after a short time worked his way up in the company.  He would become part of a team that would set up branch locations.  Eventually, he became a store manager, first in Clinton, then Fort Madison and lastly in Davenport.  In 1971, he moved to Maquoketa and began working for Vern Beatty at the Ben Franklin Store.  He later became the store owner until 1985.  He then worked as the branch manager for Midland Financial for a couple years, and later as the business manager at Brad Deery Motors in Maquoketa for a year.  Lastly, he sold Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance for many years until retiring in 2013.  He moved to Arizona in May of 2015 and in November of this year returned to Iowa.

      “Bob” was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa and had previously served on the Jackson County Public Hospital Board of Trustees.  He enjoyed fishing, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and was known as a “hands-on-do-it-yourself-fix-it-kind-of-guy”. 

      Those left to honor “Bob’s” memory include his children, Dawn Roe of Monticello, and Bradley Thomas of Cedar Rapids; a foster-daughter, Rosalee (Tom) Pollard of Lyndon, Ill.; four grandchildren, Ben, Valerie, Janessa and Miranda; and a brother Edward (Karen) Thomas.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Karen on Oct. 22, 2010.

      Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.