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Thomas Russell Focht

Birth	:	1 Jun 1922 Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	28 Dec 2011 Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9389000, -94.9747009
Description	:	Thomas Russell Focht was born June 1, 1922 in Villisca, Iowa to Lawrence and Mary (Day) Focht. He grew up on a farm west of Villisca attending country school and graduating from Villisca High School in the class of 1939. While farming the family farm, he was introduced to the new Villisca High School home economics teacher by his uncle, Les Focht. Janice Johnson said it was ‘love at first sight’ and they were married on July 27, 1947. Five children were born to this union: Marjorie, Nancy, Kathy, Mary and James. Tom continued to farm and for many years... Read More	Thomas Russell Focht was born June 1, 1922 in Villisca, Iowa to Lawrence and Mary (Day) Focht. He grew up on a farm west of Villisca attending country school and graduating from Villisca High School in the class of 1939. While farming the family farm, he was introduced to the new Villisca High School home economics teacher by his uncle, Les Focht. Janice Johnson said it was ‘love at first sight’ and they were married on July 27, 1947. Five children were born to this union: Marjorie, Nancy, Kathy, Mary and James. Tom continued to farm and for many years was a cracker jack mechanic for Bryson and Franks Allis Chalmers Implement dealership. When that business closed with the relocation of Highway 71, Tom reinvented himself in midlife as an insurance sales man operating Villisca Insurance Agency until he retired at the age of 75. After moving to Villisca from the farm in 1982, Tom became active in the Chamber of Commerce and helped restart a Lions Club after having been an active member of the Optimist Club and an earlier Lions Club. Family and community were of utmost importance to Tom. He believed in buying local to support and maintain local businesses. He organized his class reunions and was involved with the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association from its formation, working on several all-school reunions. He parked cars at high school football games into his 80s, helped choose the Yard of the Week award winners and installed and watered the hanging flower baskets to decorate downtown. He loved a good parade and helped shoot off the annual 4th of July fireworks displays. He cooked turkeys for the Advent Christian Church Thanksgiving dinner and delivered Meals on Wheels. After retiring, Tom loved to gather with his Pinochle buddies at the Senior Center weekday afternoons. When he and Janice moved to Arlington Place in Red Oak, he created a Canasta playing group there. Canasta was the family game and was played by kerosene lantern on the farm when the power went out as well as at all of the family reunions that Tom organized and hosted each summer. He played his last Canasta game in the hospital with daughters Kathy and Nancy less than two weeks before he died. Tom had an amazing memory and could always be counted on to explain who was related to whom in Villisca through multiple generations. He remained healthy and active until a heart attack in July of 2011 slowed him down. After visiting with all of his family over the Christmas holiday, Tom passed away Thursday, December 29, 2011 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Mary; brother William Focht and brother-in-law William Walford. Surviving Tom are his wife of 64 years Janice Focht of Villisca, Iowa; daughters: Marj Thimmesch and husband Wendell of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Nancy Erickson and husband Paul of Friendsville, Tennessee and Kathy Focht of New York City, New York; son James Focht and wife Carol of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandsons: Ivan Erickson of Dubuque, Iowa, Peter Erickson of Bend, Oregon and Thomas Focht of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; great grandson Finn Erickson of Dubuque, Iowa; brother Dick Focht and wife Sandy of Kansas City, Missouri; sister Nancy Walford of York, Nebraska; many nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation with the public for Thomas R. Focht, 89 of Red Oak, Iowa previously of Villisca, Iowa will be held 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Monday, January 2, 2012 at the Villisca Community Building. All other services for Tom were held privately. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to the Villisca Food Bank, Inter-Church Council, %Villisca Presbyterian Church, 109 S. 3rd Avenue, Villisca, Iowa 50864. Wolfe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Thomas Russell Focht's memorial?
Thomas Russell Focht's memorial is located at: Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA.
When did Thomas Russell Focht death?
Thomas Russell Focht death on 28 Dec 2011 in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Thomas Russell Focht's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9389000
Longitude: -94.9747009

Family Members:

Parent

Lawrence Russell Focht

(1898 - 1968)

Opal Mary Day Focht

(1903 - 1973)

Spouse

Janice McClellan Johnson Focht

(1922 - 2019)

Children

Mary Louise Focht

(1955 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Villisca Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9389000, -94.9747009

2. Carlisle Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9225006, -94.9835968

3. Findley Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9578018, -94.9571991

4. Bakers Cut Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083200, -94.9585900

5. Arlington Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9975014, -95.0093994

6. Nodaway Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9627991, -94.8858032

7. North Page Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8857994, -95.0511017

8. Fairview Cemetery
Valley Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8570862, -94.9671860

9. Mission Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0052986, -95.0603027

10. Sciola Baptist Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0340000, -94.9859000

11. Mamre Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9865480, -95.0886400

12. Bolt Family Burying Ground
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362750, -94.9950660

13. North Grove Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8422012, -94.9396973

14. Mamrelund Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9810486, -95.0959320

15. Methodist Grove Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -94.8332977

16. Baldwin Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9768982, -94.8244019

17. Thompson Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0527000, -94.9161000

18. Rose Hill Church Cemetery
Clarinda, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8215000, -95.0340000

19. Guss Cemetery
Guss, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8502657, -94.8510869

20. Tabor Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0543700, -95.0619900

21. Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery
Douglas Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8430000, -95.1044000

22. Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9728012, -94.7953033

23. Strand Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0730000, -94.9100000

24. Mortons Mill Cemetery
Morton Mills, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0085983