Funeral services for Roscoe Wayne Thomas, 81, who passed away Wednesday evening, July 29, 2009 at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, after a battle with colon cancer, will be held 11 a.m., Monday, August 3 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Indianola.

Roscoe was born May 5, 1928 in Keosauqua, IA to Lester and Alice Thomas. He spent his youth in the Mt. Pleasant area and served in the United States Army during WWII from 1946 – 1947 in the Philippines. In 1953 he became a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors working for Otis and Westinghouse Elevator, retiring in 1986.

After serving in the Army, he returned to Mt. Pleasant and married Joyce Pugh. They had three children, Jerry, Teri and Kevin. After a divorce from Joyce, Roscoe married Maxine Weeks and they settled in Milo, IA. Roscoe loved to hunt, fish, travel, watch mule and draft horse competitions, and listen to polka music. He never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Vivian Wilder and Marcella Pauley; both wives; and son-in-law, Mike Souer.

He will be remembered in life by many including his family: sons, Jerry (Beth) Thomas of Chugiak, AK and Kevin (Deb) Thomas of Beech, IA; daughter, Teri Souer of Indianola; grandsons, Jason Souer of Urbandale, Jerad Souer of Indianola, Brandon Thomas with the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Bragg and Travis Thomas of Ankeny; granddaughters, Jacki (Tyson) Fehrer of Indianola and Samantha Thomas of Chugiak; great-grandchildren, Caden and Mea Fehrer of Indianola; brothers, Jack (Bonnie) Thomas of Mt. Pleasant and Gene (Lois) Thomas of Loveland, CO; and good pal, Mary Essick.

He will also be missed by step-children, Shirley (Myron) Culbertson, Jerry (Helen) Weeks and Jim (Joan) Weeks all of Indianola; Betty (Sylvester) Dittmer of Milo; Judy Johnson of Des Moines; Dixie Luna of CO and many step-grand and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, August 2 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present to greet friends. Memorials may be given to Milo American Legion, Warren County Izaak Walton League or Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines.