"I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Tom in high school and will always remember how kind he was."
Thomas Heither WEST LIBERTY, Iowa #45;- Thomas LeMoine Heither, 49, died Saturday Nov. 18, 2000, from a heart attack while jogging. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. The Rev. Frank Schultz will officiate. Burial will be at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in West Liberty. Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Methodist Church or West Liberty Rescue Unit. The Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Heither was born Feb. 18, 1951, the son of LeMoine and Geraldine Carpenter Heither. He was a 1969 graduate of West Liberty High School and received his bachelor's of science from Iowa State University in 1973. He married Mary Ann Templeman on Dec. 29, 1972, in West Liberty. He taught school for several years as a vocational agriculture instructor in Williamsburg and Muscatine Community Schools. For 16 years he was the vice president of agriculture services at Central State Bank in Muscatine. His final chapter in life was his very best as he was preparing for a new challenge in banking. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church where he served on the board of directors, Muscatine County Fair board of directors, West Liberty Lions Club, Muscatine Community College Advisory Committee, Muscatine Cattleman's Association and the Muscatine County Farm Bureau. In the past he was a director for the Muscatine Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Muscatine, Leadership Muscatine and Wartburg College Parents Committee. He had received many awards and recognition's: Honorary Iowa Farmer from the Future Farmers of America, President Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, and had been selected by Iowa State University Economics Department to travel to Eastern Europe to teach the free market economy system for two years. He was a great son, husband, dad and teacher. A farmer, banker, true friend, carpenter, electrician, singer, dancer, great neighbor, an idol, a very proud individual, a man of true character and unchallenged integrity. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Heither of West Liberty; a son, Thomas LeMoine Heither Jr. of Austin, Minn.; a daughter, Hollie Heither at home; and two sisters, Arleda Wolf and her husband, Wayne, and Karyl Reinsager and her husband, Tom, all of West Liberty. He was preceded in death by his parents. Tom's final words of wisdom: "Smile. Speak to everyone. Share your life with them and theirs with you. That's what it is all about. The People!"
"I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Tom in high school and will always remember how kind he was."