Thomas, Edward W. 'Ed'

Edward W. “Ed” Thomas, 95, of Iowa City, died at his home Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Ed was well known in the Iowa City community and throughout the state of Iowa from careers in dairy herds and Durocs hogs to real estate and development.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, where a visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Ed was born to Anna E. Williams Thomas and Albert Breese Thomas on Aug. 24, 1916. Edward grew up with his older brother, Wendell Thomas, on a farm southwest of Iowa City. The family owned a dairy herd and Ed spent many of his teenage years helping to deliver milk to customers daily around Iowa City. He attended University High School in Iowa City, where he met and dated his future wife, Kathryn (Kay) Myers of North Liberty. After graduating high school, Ed and Kay both attended the University of Iowa until the Depression threatening the family farm prompted them to leave the university. Ed and Kay were married June 17, 1937, and moved to the farm to help with its operation. The dairy herd was not yielding enough profit to help the family pay off a note against the farm and in the mid 1940s, Ed and Kay started getting into the purebred Duroc hog business. They sold their dairy herd to focus on the hog business that was named Kayward Farm and their Durocs won many state and national awards over the years. Ed and Kay were recognized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association in 1993 for their significant contributions to the pork industry. Kay and Ed raised three daughters, Jeanne, Barbara and Kathy during their years on the farm.

In 1960, Ed started to work as a Realtor in the Iowa City area, and he and Kay began subdividing the family farm at the southwest corner of Iowa City near University Heights. They moved from their family farm home in 1968 to a new home they built further west on their property. Until his death, Ed was actively involved in real estate, subdividing his land and in the subdivision of Galway Hills, which he and the late Dave Cahill of Iowa City formed a joint venture to develop.

Ed loved his Iowa Hawkeyes, hunting morel mushrooms, wood working, gardening and most of all spending time with family and friends.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Kay (2005); one daughter, Kathleen (Kathy) June Sayre (1970); and his brother, Wendell Thomas (2006).

He is survived by two daughters, Jeanne Hocker Urban and husband Don (Iowa City), Barbara Thomas Hakes and husband Chris Wiseman (Laramie, Wyo., and Calgary, AB, Canada); grandchildren, Timothy Hocker and wife Lana (Davenport), Jill Marolf and husband Doug (McCall, Idaho), Margo Hocker Grolmus and husband Tim (Swisher); and son-in-law, William Sayre and wife Linda (Iowa City). His great-grandchildren include Zoe and Drew Hocker (Davenport), Wyatt and Ryder Marolf (McCall, Idaho) and David, Trent and Mary Jo Grolmus (Swisher); and nieces and nephew, Mary Ann Thomas Sladek Park and husband Richard (Iowa City), Bette McGinnis Lopez and husband Joe (Ozwakie, Kan.) and Jack McGinnis and wife Glenda (LaMonte, Mo.).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Ed's memory for the Infusion Center at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center through the University of Iowa Foundation, 1 Park Rd., Iowa City, IA 52244.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

Published Aug. 17, 2012 in The Gazette