Thomas Hughes

Thomas J. Hughes, 77, of Adair, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at his home, after a courageous battle of Parkinson's and lung cancer.

Thomas Jerimiah Hughes was born to Anthony J. and Agnes M. (McCardle) Hughes on the family farm 2 ½ miles east of Randolph, Iowa, on February 7, 1934. He attended St. Patrick's Catholic School in Imogene, Iowa, until the eighth grade. He then attended the Randolph High School until he left for military service.


He left for the U.S. Air Force in April 1953. After serving in California, Japan and New Jersey as an aircraft mechanic, Thomas was honorably discharged in August 1956. Following the service, Thomas worked many varying jobs including wheat harvesting, house mover, service station attendant, bell hop, short order cook, tree trimmer and packing oranges at an orange grove. These jobs gave him the ability to travel around the country for a few years. He also worked at the West Side Supply in Atlantic as branch manager for many years, but his most recent job was working for Jacobson's Plumbing in Adair since 1992.

On August 29, 1981, he was united in marriage to his best friend Rozanne Gehrtz at St. John's Lutheran Church just outside of Adair. He was a 30 year member of St. John's.

Tom had a passion for college football and was a life-long Husker fan. He enjoyed history, westerns and tinkering in the garage. Tom viewed his life as a constant adventure and his flare for story-telling always brought a smile. He had patience of a saint, and laughter that filled the room like music. Above all, he was a family man and his family meant the world to him. To know him was to love him.

Those left to cherish Tom's memory are his wife, Rozanne Hughes of Adair, IA; his children, Jennifer (John) Wilson of Anita, IA, Michael Hughes of Omaha, NE, Marty Hughes and family of Pennsylvania and Jackie Hughes and family of Tennessee; his grandchildren, Nick (Sarah Minor) and Hailey Wilson all of Anita, IA; his brothers, Ronnie (Ruth) Hughes of West Des Moines, IA and Patrick (Patsy) Hughes of Glendale, AZ; his beloved friend, Zoey; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding Tom in death were his parents, Anthony and Agnes Hughes; his son, Tony Hughes; his brothers and sisters, Tony Hughes, Donnie Hughes, Earl Hughes, Marty Hughes, Mary Ellen King, Lenora Hughes and Naomi Thornton.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 28, 2011, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church northwest of Adair. Burial will take place in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Adair. The family invites you to a luncheon at Immanuel Lutheran Church following the committal service.

Visitation with family will be Sunday, November 27, 2011, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa.