Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Gibbon > Riverside Cemetery > Walter Lynn Thomas

Walter Lynn Thomas

Birth	:	11 Feb 1925 Gibbon, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	23 May 2015 Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Riverside Cemetery, Gibbon, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.7557983, -98.8756027
Description	:	KEARNEY — W. Lynn Thomas, 90, of Kearney, died Saturday, May 23, 2015, at CHI Health Good Samaritan. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Kearney eFree Church with the Rev. Brian Klein officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery at Gibbon. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Walter Lynn Thomas was born on a farm outside of Gibbon to O. Verner and Anna (Piper) Thomas on Feb. 11, 1925. He was the ninth of 11 children. He is affectionately known to some as “Bub.” At 5 years old, he contracted... Read More	KEARNEY — W. Lynn Thomas, 90, of Kearney, died Saturday, May 23, 2015, at CHI Health Good Samaritan. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Kearney eFree Church with the Rev. Brian Klein officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery at Gibbon. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Walter Lynn Thomas was born on a farm outside of Gibbon to O. Verner and Anna (Piper) Thomas on Feb. 11, 1925. He was the ninth of 11 children. He is affectionately known to some as “Bub.” At 5 years old, he contracted polio, and he spent much of his youth in and out of the Orthopedic Hospital in Lincoln. The polio caused a lot of physical problems, so he had to spend his life on crutches and in a wheelchair, but he never let his physical limitations stand in the way of his dreams. Lynn graduated in 1944 from Kearney Public Schools and later attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was united in marriage to Beverly Jean Nelson, and they had four children: Lynda, Michael, LeAnn and Richard. Lynn worked a number of jobs in Kearney until he worked at and then bought a little storefront business named Ace Irrigation Equipment. His primary interests and activities throughout his adult life involved Ace Irrigation, a company he grew into the thriving irrigation and culvert business Ace Eaton Metals located at the Kearney Airbase. For the past 10 years, Lynn has been married to Mary Ann deNeveu Shanahan. In these later years, Lynn had an apartment connected to the business office, so he was able to remain active at the company by wheeling his wheelchair over to the office every day. Less than a week before his passing, Lynn wheeled out into the plant for a look at the present activities and a chat with employees. Lynn thought of his employees like family. Lynn had a beautiful voice and loved singing the popular songs of his youth. Lynn learned to play chess during his college days, and, over the years, he collected many unusual chess sets. Lynn enjoyed watching sports on TV, and he enjoyed documentaries and history. He grew cat-tails in the ditches around the office, and he loved watching the red-wing black birds nest there. Lynn possessed an incredible memory for everything, including that he could still remember all of his classmates’ names from third grade. Through Ace Irrigation and personally, Lynn supported with his membership, time and funds hundreds of organizations, groups, charities, teams, schools, universities and individuals. These include Rotary, 4-H, Kearney and Gibbon volunteer fire departments, Law Enforcement of Buffalo County, Special Olympics, Lions, Eagles, Republican Party, Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, Crossroads Mission, and many, many others. In 1967, Lynn was presented the Small Businessman of the Year Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He also was awarded the key to the city of Kearney. In 1975, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department selected Lynn as an Honorary Fireman. In the 1970s, Lynn was elected to and served on the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors. Lynn and his daughter LeAnn captured much of his inspiring life story and published it in a book titled “Pipe Dreams.” During his life, he overcame many obstacles to achieve his dreams, and he would encourage you to pursue your dreams as well. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann of Kearney; daughters, Lynda Frye Brookes and husband Mike of Kearney and LeAnn Thomas of Kearney; sons, Michael Thomas and wife Sue Ann of Gibbon and Richard Thomas and wife Monica of Kearney; stepdaughter, Ryan deNeveu of Omaha; grandchildren, Kasey Frye and wife Karen, Jenae Frye Curtis, Bryan Frye, Jesse McNew and wife Chelsea, Heather Wright and husband Lucas, Dustin McNew, Chancey Thomas and significant other Ryan West, Laura Ritterbush, Kimber Kinstler and husband Todd, Nicole Ritterbush, Justice deNeveu and Rowan Norman; great-grandchildren, Serenity, Quincy, Damien, Huxley, Saber, Savannah, Dylan, Rylan and Hailey; as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters, Lloyd, Loren, Merle, Lucile Musil, Dorothy Musil, David, Roy, Edith Cure, Arthur, and Beverly; son-in-law, Patrick Frye; and first wife and mother of his children, Beverly (Nelson) Thomas.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Walter Lynn Thomas's memorial?
Walter Lynn Thomas's memorial is located at: Riverside Cemetery, Gibbon, Buffalo County, USA.
When did Walter Lynn Thomas death?
Walter Lynn Thomas death on 23 May 2015 in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Walter Lynn Thomas's memorial?
Latitude: 40.7557983
Longitude: -98.8756027

Family Members:

Parent

Oscar Verner “Vern” Thomas

(1886 - 1978)

Anna Eliza Piper Thomas

(1886 - 1966)

Spouse

Siblings

Lloyd K. Thomas

(1906 - 1983)

Merle M. Thomas

(1910 - 1993)

Ella Lucile Thomas Musil

(1911 - 2008)

Dorothy I. Thomas Musil

(1913 - 1993)

Edith Rachel Thomas Cure

(1921 - 2005)

Beverly Thomas

(1929 - 1930)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Riverside Cemetery
Gibbon, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7557983, -98.8756027

2. Poor Farm Cemetery
Kearney, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7722220, -98.9697790

3. Shelton Cemetery
Hall County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7725780, -98.7135790

4. Saint Paul Cemetery
Lowell, Kearney County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6553001, -98.7628021

5. Burgess Cemetery
Poole, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8993710, -98.8956640

6. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8944016, -98.9424973

7. Dow Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8946050, -98.9436760

8. Prairie Center Cemetery
Kearney, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8306007, -99.0456009

9. Fort Kearney Post Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6429000, -99.0066400

10. Kearney Cemetery
Kearney, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7182200, -99.0691200

11. Susan O. Hall Gravesite
Kenesaw, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6554000, -98.7242000

12. First Lutheran Church Columbarium
Kearney, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7091000, -99.0718000

13. Susan C Seawell Haile Gravesite
Kenesaw, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6553200, -98.7133700

14. Saint Wenceslaus Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9161239, -98.8728585

15. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9160995, -98.8981018

16. Saint Lukes Episcopal Columbarium
Kearney, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6990000, -99.0845000

17. Saint Mary Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8581009, -99.0541992

18. Saint Johns Cemetery
Pleasanton, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8875008, -99.0252991

19. Liberty Cemetery
Minden, Kearney County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5833015, -98.9041977

20. Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery
Wood River, Hall County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8073600, -98.6543160

21. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Shelton, Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9162896, -98.7776927

22. Holy Family Cemetery
Heartwell, Kearney County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5960999, -98.7605972

23. Majors Cemetery
Buffalo County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9281006, -98.9891968

24. Eaton Cemetery
Heartwell, Kearney County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5614014, -98.8003006