Mickey Thomas

David Mickey Thomas, son of David Richard Thomas and Helen Gould Thomas, was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1929 and died July 13, 2022, at his home in Osceola. He was 93.

Mickey graduated from City High in Iowa City in 1947, and from the University of Iowa in 1951. He pursued post-graduate studies in marketing and gained retail experience at Wilson’s Sporting Goods in Iowa City. He served in the Iowa National Guard. In 1951, he married Betty Williams of Norfolk, Nebraska.

The family moved to Osceola in 1955, where he took a job at Robinson’s Department store, a general merchandise store serving south central Iowa located on the town square. Mickey earned his way to become general manager of the store and eventually co-owner. He worked at the store for over 62 years. He retired in 2017, when the business was sold.

During his long and active life, Mickey was an avid mountaineer, hiker, tennis player, and enjoyed skiing each year in Winter Park, Colorado. He helped establish Osceola’s tennis program and promoted the establishment of Grade Lake Park and The Thomas Trail. Among his hobbies was calling square dances, which he learned while in college. He called weekly for decades throughout central Iowa.

Mickey served on the Osceola City Council, Chamber of Commerce and was an active member of the Lions Club, receiving numerous awards for his civic and community service including the Osceola Community Service Award. He served as board member of Clarke County State Bank for 21 years. Mickey enjoyed many years playing doubles tennis at Aspen Athletic Club (renamed Genesis Health Club) and taking tennis and Pilates lessons at Lifetime Fitness. He participated in the Hawkeye Tennis Open and was a finalist in his age group in 2003 and 2004. He fundraised for the annual Fourth of July celebration for decades and was one of the first honorary parade marshals. In 2011, Mickey was named a State Fair ‘Iowan of the Day’.

Mickey was a member of the Iowa Mountaineers and climbed the mountains in Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, the Canadian Rockies and European Alps, including Mount Blanc at the age of 70. The peak ‘Mickey’s Spire’ in Idaho’s Sawtooth Range was one of Mickey’s first ascents. He was also a world travel, enjoying multiple trips with his family to Germany, Portugal, Serbia, Scotland, and Peru.

Mickey was a guest columnist for the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune newspaper for ten years, that chronicled interesting experiences and histories of the community. He later compiled his editorials into the popular three volume book series ‘Tales of the Aisles’.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, David and Helen Thomas, his sister Betty Page, and his wife Betty Williams Thomas. Mickey is survived by his three daughters, Becky Martin and her husband Dwight Martin of Tilghman, MD, Sue Moulton and her husband Greg Moulton of Vienna, VA, and Judy Thomas of Newburgh, NY; three grandchildren, Mathew Moulton of Philadelphia, PA, Ashley Moulton of Richmond, VA, and Caleb Martin of Vienna, VA.

Services were held at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Wednesday July 20, 2022 at 11:00 am.

The family greeted friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at Kale Funeral Home.

A live stream of the service will be available at www.kalefuneralhome.com on Mickey’s tribute wall beginning at 11:00 am, Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Thomas Youth Tennis Fund % South Central Iowa Community Foundation - 705 Ilion Avenue, Chariton, IA 50049

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com