Nowers, Thomas S.

Thomas S. Nowers, 76, of Dubuque, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque. Friends may greet the family Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Rd., Dubuque; and Friday in Cedar Rapids from 9 until 11 a.m., when all are welcome to attend the Mass at St. Jude's Catholic Church. The Rev. Mark Reasoner will officiate. Private family burial will be Saturday in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Thomas was born Nov. 2, 1935, in Geneseo, Ill., the son of Thomas and Betty (Schehl) Nowers. He graduated from Atkinson High School, Atkinson, Ill., where he was vice president of his senior class. He served in the Naval Reserves while attending the University of New Mexico, later transferring to the University of Iowa, graduating in 1953.

He was united in marriage to Joyce Roden in 1958. To this union, five children were born. They celebrated 40 years of marriage before her death in 1998.

In 2001, he married Betty Nannenga of Dubuque. For decades, Tom was employed with many dealerships representing A.O. Smith Harvestore, he later worked with J.E. Adams, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Tom was a past member of the Optimist Club, the Catholic Laymans and was a supporter of the Lion's Club.

Tom was an avid Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed reading, traveling and spending time with his family, children and grandchildren. Those who knew Tom also knew his natural abilities and talents as an artist, gardener and avid cook. He was a great landscape painter, photographer and spirited conversationalist. Tom was a caring person, always happy and full of fun. He will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Betty of Dubuque; his daughter, Teresa “Terri” (Joe) Wignall of Gurnee, Ill.,L, and their children, Alex and Elizabeth; his daughter, Lorena (James) Redding of Wilmington, N.C.; his son, Joseph (Lisa) Nowers of Ames, and their children, Jacque and Austin; his son, Thomas R. Nowers of Saginaw, Texas, and his children, Thomas C. Nowers and Tawnee Nicolson; his son, Roy (Paula Roby) Nowers of Cedar Rapids, and their children, Colette and Jack; his stepdaughter, Rachel Nannenga and her son, Brayden; his stepson, Bryce (Brittani) Nannenga and their children, Isabela and Lila Mae; three siblings, Jim (Ferdinand) Nowers of Prophetstown, Ill., Elizabeth “Betsy” (Jim) Wyffels of Geneseo, Ill., and Kathryn (Duane) VanVooren of Atkinson, Ill.; and his mother-in-law, Cecelia Marken of Manly.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Thomas Nowers of Atkinson, Ill.; his mother and father-in-law, Thelma and Harvey Roden of Maquoketa; and his father-in-law, Harold Marken.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Thomas S. Nowers Memorial Fund.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and nurses at Mercy Medical Center, and to Dr. Liaboe and Dr. Whalen for their care of Tom.

Online condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette March 27, 2012.