Mrs. Winona Thomas, age 98 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Monday, January 18, 2016 at Heisinger Bluffs.
She was born on May 30, 1917 in Higbee, Mo., a daughter of Pete and Georgia (Owen) Gruber.
She was married on May 30, 1937 in Chicago, Ill. to Henry L. Thomas, who preceded her in death on September 27, 1993.
After graduation from Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo., she and Henry lived in Chicago, Illinois for 12 years. They moved back to the farm in Randolph County in 1949 and then moved to Jefferson City in 1957.
She was employed by Packard Motor Company and Admiral Lamp Company in Chicago, Ill.; Uregas Propane Gas Co. in Moberly and Jefferson City for 17 years; and managed the Missouri State Employees Credit Union for 10 years until her retirement in 1978.
She was a faithful member and deacon of the Community Christian Church in Jefferson City for many years.
Winona was passionate about helping her community and loved helping people through volunteering her time. She was past president of the Moreau View Extension Club, the Cole County Extension Homemaker’s Council, and the Missouri Credit Union League. With her background in finance, she helped as treasurer of numerous organizations including: the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County, Georgetown Homeowner's Association, Women in Development, Family & Community Education, Association of State Employees and enjoyed her time as treasurer of the Optimist Club of Jefferson City for five years. She was a past secretary of River Bluffs Audubon Society and served on the board of the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County. She was a member of the Mid Missouri Genealogy Society and the Classic Club at Central Bank because of her love of traveling.
She was past Adjutant (rank of Captain) of the Jefferson City Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. She served seven years with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Program assisting senior citizens in preparing their Missouri State Tax Breaker Claims.
In 2004, she was elected president of the Jefferson City Optimist Club. She was a diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention Visitors Bureau, president of the Resident's Council at Heisinger Bluffs.
Winona enjoyed traveling and exploring the new cultures around the world. She cherished time with her close friends and she never knew a stranger. Overall, Winona enjoyed life and was blessed with many years.
Survivors include: nieces, Donna Vasquez and her family of Fallon, Nevada, Kathleen Rauch (husband Rich) and her family of Decatur, Indiana and Nina Zillmann (husband Otto) and her family of Olathe, Kansas and other nieces; nephew, Kent Owen Gruber (wife Carol) and his family of Chicago, Illinois and other nephews; and her beloved friend and caregiver, Nancy Shank (husband Paul) of Jefferson City, Mo.
Winona and her family appreciated all the care she received from the staff at Heisinger Bluffs and Hospice Compassus.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; her older brother, James Gruber; and younger brother, Frank Gruber.
Visitation will be held at Community Christian Church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Community Christian Church with the Reverend Coletta Eichenberger officiating.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Higbee City Cemetery in Higbee, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Community Christian Church, the Benevolent Fund at Heisinger Bluffs or the Higbee Cemetery Association.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
She was born on May 30, 1917 in Higbee, Mo., a daughter of Pete and Georgia (Owen) Gruber.
She was married on May 30, 1937 in Chicago, Ill. to Henry L. Thomas, who preceded her in death on September 27, 1993.
After graduation from Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo., she and Henry lived in Chicago, Illinois for 12 years. They moved back to the farm in Randolph County in 1949 and then moved to Jefferson City in 1957.
She was employed by Packard Motor Company and Admiral Lamp Company in Chicago, Ill.; Uregas Propane Gas Co. in Moberly and Jefferson City for 17 years; and managed the Missouri State Employees Credit Union for 10 years until her retirement in 1978.
She was a faithful member and deacon of the Community Christian Church in Jefferson City for many years.
Winona was passionate about helping her community and loved helping people through volunteering her time. She was past president of the Moreau View Extension Club, the Cole County Extension Homemaker’s Council, and the Missouri Credit Union League. With her background in finance, she helped as treasurer of numerous organizations including: the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County, Georgetown Homeowner's Association, Women in Development, Family & Community Education, Association of State Employees and enjoyed her time as treasurer of the Optimist Club of Jefferson City for five years. She was a past secretary of River Bluffs Audubon Society and served on the board of the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County. She was a member of the Mid Missouri Genealogy Society and the Classic Club at Central Bank because of her love of traveling.
She was past Adjutant (rank of Captain) of the Jefferson City Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. She served seven years with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Program assisting senior citizens in preparing their Missouri State Tax Breaker Claims.
In 2004, she was elected president of the Jefferson City Optimist Club. She was a diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention Visitors Bureau, president of the Resident's Council at Heisinger Bluffs.
Winona enjoyed traveling and exploring the new cultures around the world. She cherished time with her close friends and she never knew a stranger. Overall, Winona enjoyed life and was blessed with many years.
Survivors include: nieces, Donna Vasquez and her family of Fallon, Nevada, Kathleen Rauch (husband Rich) and her family of Decatur, Indiana and Nina Zillmann (husband Otto) and her family of Olathe, Kansas and other nieces; nephew, Kent Owen Gruber (wife Carol) and his family of Chicago, Illinois and other nephews; and her beloved friend and caregiver, Nancy Shank (husband Paul) of Jefferson City, Mo.
Winona and her family appreciated all the care she received from the staff at Heisinger Bluffs and Hospice Compassus.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; her older brother, James Gruber; and younger brother, Frank Gruber.
Visitation will be held at Community Christian Church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Community Christian Church with the Reverend Coletta Eichenberger officiating.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Higbee City Cemetery in Higbee, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Community Christian Church, the Benevolent Fund at Heisinger Bluffs or the Higbee Cemetery Association.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
Mrs. Winona Thomas, age 98 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Monday, January 18, 2016 at Heisinger Bluffs.
She was born on May 30, 1917 in Higbee, Mo., a daughter of Pete and Georgia (Owen) Gruber.
She was married on May 30, 1937 in Chicago, Ill. to Henry L. Thomas, who preceded her in death on September 27, 1993.
After graduation from Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo., she and Henry lived in Chicago, Illinois for 12 years. They moved back to the farm in Randolph County in 1949 and then moved to Jefferson City in 1957.
She was employed by Packard Motor Company and Admiral Lamp Company in Chicago, Ill.; Uregas Propane Gas Co. in Moberly and Jefferson City for 17 years; and managed the Missouri State Employees Credit Union for 10 years until her retirement in 1978.
She was a faithful member and deacon of the Community Christian Church in Jefferson City for many years.
Winona was passionate about helping her community and loved helping people through volunteering her time. She was past president of the Moreau View Extension Club, the Cole County Extension Homemaker’s Council, and the Missouri Credit Union League. With her background in finance, she helped as treasurer of numerous organizations including: the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County, Georgetown Homeowner's Association, Women in Development, Family & Community Education, Association of State Employees and enjoyed her time as treasurer of the Optimist Club of Jefferson City for five years. She was a past secretary of River Bluffs Audubon Society and served on the board of the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County. She was a member of the Mid Missouri Genealogy Society and the Classic Club at Central Bank because of her love of traveling.
She was past Adjutant (rank of Captain) of the Jefferson City Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. She served seven years with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Program assisting senior citizens in preparing their Missouri State Tax Breaker Claims.
In 2004, she was elected president of the Jefferson City Optimist Club. She was a diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention Visitors Bureau, president of the Resident's Council at Heisinger Bluffs.
Winona enjoyed traveling and exploring the new cultures around the world. She cherished time with her close friends and she never knew a stranger. Overall, Winona enjoyed life and was blessed with many years.
Survivors include: nieces, Donna Vasquez and her family of Fallon, Nevada, Kathleen Rauch (husband Rich) and her family of Decatur, Indiana and Nina Zillmann (husband Otto) and her family of Olathe, Kansas and other nieces; nephew, Kent Owen Gruber (wife Carol) and his family of Chicago, Illinois and other nephews; and her beloved friend and caregiver, Nancy Shank (husband Paul) of Jefferson City, Mo.
Winona and her family appreciated all the care she received from the staff at Heisinger Bluffs and Hospice Compassus.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; her older brother, James Gruber; and younger brother, Frank Gruber.
Visitation will be held at Community Christian Church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Community Christian Church with the Reverend Coletta Eichenberger officiating.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Higbee City Cemetery in Higbee, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Community Christian Church, the Benevolent Fund at Heisinger Bluffs or the Higbee Cemetery Association.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
She was born on May 30, 1917 in Higbee, Mo., a daughter of Pete and Georgia (Owen) Gruber.
She was married on May 30, 1937 in Chicago, Ill. to Henry L. Thomas, who preceded her in death on September 27, 1993.
After graduation from Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo., she and Henry lived in Chicago, Illinois for 12 years. They moved back to the farm in Randolph County in 1949 and then moved to Jefferson City in 1957.
She was employed by Packard Motor Company and Admiral Lamp Company in Chicago, Ill.; Uregas Propane Gas Co. in Moberly and Jefferson City for 17 years; and managed the Missouri State Employees Credit Union for 10 years until her retirement in 1978.
She was a faithful member and deacon of the Community Christian Church in Jefferson City for many years.
Winona was passionate about helping her community and loved helping people through volunteering her time. She was past president of the Moreau View Extension Club, the Cole County Extension Homemaker’s Council, and the Missouri Credit Union League. With her background in finance, she helped as treasurer of numerous organizations including: the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County, Georgetown Homeowner's Association, Women in Development, Family & Community Education, Association of State Employees and enjoyed her time as treasurer of the Optimist Club of Jefferson City for five years. She was a past secretary of River Bluffs Audubon Society and served on the board of the Senior Nutrition Council of Jefferson City and Cole County. She was a member of the Mid Missouri Genealogy Society and the Classic Club at Central Bank because of her love of traveling.
She was past Adjutant (rank of Captain) of the Jefferson City Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. She served seven years with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Program assisting senior citizens in preparing their Missouri State Tax Breaker Claims.
In 2004, she was elected president of the Jefferson City Optimist Club. She was a diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention Visitors Bureau, president of the Resident's Council at Heisinger Bluffs.
Winona enjoyed traveling and exploring the new cultures around the world. She cherished time with her close friends and she never knew a stranger. Overall, Winona enjoyed life and was blessed with many years.
Survivors include: nieces, Donna Vasquez and her family of Fallon, Nevada, Kathleen Rauch (husband Rich) and her family of Decatur, Indiana and Nina Zillmann (husband Otto) and her family of Olathe, Kansas and other nieces; nephew, Kent Owen Gruber (wife Carol) and his family of Chicago, Illinois and other nephews; and her beloved friend and caregiver, Nancy Shank (husband Paul) of Jefferson City, Mo.
Winona and her family appreciated all the care she received from the staff at Heisinger Bluffs and Hospice Compassus.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; her older brother, James Gruber; and younger brother, Frank Gruber.
Visitation will be held at Community Christian Church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Community Christian Church with the Reverend Coletta Eichenberger officiating.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Higbee City Cemetery in Higbee, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Community Christian Church, the Benevolent Fund at Heisinger Bluffs or the Higbee Cemetery Association.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
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