Thomas Baltisberger

THOMAS G. BALTISBERGER

Cedar Rapids

Thomas Grant Baltisberger, 75, passed away from cancer on April 20, 2017, surrounded by those who loved him.

Tom was born in Grinnell, Iowa, and attended school in Des Moines, where he lived most of his life. Tom was an alumnus of Des Moines Area Community College. He retired from John Deere Des Moines Works after 32 years.

Following his retirement from John Deere, he traveled to all 50 states and worked in the field of addiction at five different treatment centers in four different states over a 16-year period. He was employed at Select Specialty Hospital in Madison, Wis., when he passed away. He also was a volunteer at Agrace Thrift Store, MAICO and Gilda's Club.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Carl; mother, Margaret; sister, Charlene; and his soulmate, Mary.

He felt close to his cousin, Bill and wife Barbara, where they would meet in Malcom every Memorial Day to decorate their grandparents graves.

Tom leaves behind his daughter, Theresa Mitchell and her husband, Don, their children, David (Ann), and their daughter, Addison, and Aaron (Jessica), and their sons, Abram and Bryson; son, Timothy (Kim), and daughters, Jessica, Sarah and Emily; and son, Thom (Teri), and their children, Becca (Dylan) and Sara.

Tom was very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He took comfort in the fact that they all had good jobs, were college graduates and had longterm marriages.

Tom will be buried in the family plot in Malcom next to his soulmate, Mary.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1026 State St., Grinnell, on Friday, April 28, at 10 a.m. Inurnment will be in Ivy Hill Cemetery, Malcom, at 1 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Gilda's Club, 7907 UW Health Ct., Middleton, WI 53562.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.