Obituary of Thomas Elmer Wilgenbusch

Survivors include: His wife, Rita; of Monticello; 2 Sons: Don (Jo Ann) Wilgenbusch of Davenport, IA, and John (Diane) Wilgenbusch of Saginaw, MI; 1 Daughter: Joyce Dougan of Plains, MT; 1 Stepson Leo (Rosanne) Heid of Worthington, IA; 2 Stepdaughters: Jane (Gerald) Jesenovec of Farley, IA and Mary Beth (Bruce) Clark of Monticello, IA; 8 Sisters, Viola Trumm of Coggon, IA, Myrtle Krogmann of Manchester, IA, Gladys Kirby of Hopkinton, IA, Rosella Britt of Buck Creek, IA, Mary Lauersdorf of Manchester, IA, Laura (Art) Feldmann of Hopkinton, IA, Elsie (Bill) Ries of Cascade, IA and Alice (Bob) Kirpes of Dubuque, IA; 1 Brother: Herman "Bud" Wilgenbusch of Monticello, IA; 17 Grandchildren and 12 Great-grandchildren; his In-laws: Irene (Harold) Hosch of Cascade, IA and Clara (Lou) Weber of Prairieburg, IA.. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Frances Holub; Two brothers: Frank, in infancy, and John; Two sisters: Mabel Guthrie and Ethel Kenny; One sister-in-law, Lenora Husmann. Thomas was born on May 10, 1918, in Farley, Iowa, the son of Nicholas and Rosena (Atkinson) Wilgenbusch. He was educated in Delaware County rural schools. Thomas married Frances Marie Holub January 5, 1943, at Sand Springs, IA. After her death in 1972, he married Rita Hosch-Heid on November 24, 1973 in Monticello. Tom managed the Sand Springs Coop for 3 years. He farmed in the Farley and Coggon area until 1965 when he moved to Monticello. He worked for the City of Monticello for the water department until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of the Monticello Lions Club, where he received the Melvin Jones Service Award in October of 2002. He also was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Monticello, where he served on the church council and the cemetery board.