116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Thomas G. Short
THOMAS G. SHORT
Independence
Thomas G. Short, 69, of Independence, Iowa, died Friday morning, Nov. 23, 2018, at the Veterans Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa.
Tom was born on Sept. 16, 1949, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Andrew T. and Lillian R. (Weber) Short. He attended St. John's Catholic Schools and graduated from Independence High School in 1968. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 3rd of the 5th Calvary Division, better known as the "Black Knights," receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during the Vietnam War, serving until his discharge. On Aug. 2, 1969, he married Peggy A. Gates in St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, Iowa. The family made their home in Independence, Iowa. Tom was employed in the maintenance/carpentry department of John Deere for 38 years prior to his retirement in 2011. During his retirement, Tom volunteered at the American Legion Hall in Independence.
He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, the American Legion Post, the VFW Post and the Black Knights. He enjoyed trout fishing, going on long motorcycle rides on his Harley, skilled carpentry, exercising and going to Bible studies. He loved spending time with his family and friends.
Tom is survived by his wife of 49 years, Peggy Short; four children, Jennifer (Bruce) Kinner, Andrea (Paul) Wheatley, Jeffrey Thomas (Angie) Short and Daniel Thomas (Jessica) Short; 13 grandchildren, Randall, Aidan and Luke Kinner, Addison, Reese, Drew, Oliva and Karsyn Wheatley-Johnson, Connor, Alayna and Logan Short, Amelia and Calvin Short; a great-grandchild, Laiken Wheatley-Johnson; two brothers, Jerald Short, Independence, Iowa, and Michael Short, Bettendorf, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Lillian Short; and a sister, Rita (Greg) Monahan.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, Iowa, with the Rev. David Beckman officiating. Burial will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Reiff Family Center in Independence, where a rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. A military memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. and a parish vigil service will be held at 8 p.m.
To leave an online condolence, please go to www.reifffuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters