Obit:

Thomas, James Roy (1890 - 1982)

Contact:

Stan

Email:

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames:

THOMAS SAUVAIN SAVELAND LAESSIG FISHER

 

----Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 04/07/1982


Thomas, James Roy (1890 - 1982)


James Roy Thomas, 91, a former Loyal, Clark County, resident, who has been residing at the Clark County Health Care Center, Owen, died Friday afternoon, April 2, 1982, at the Health Care Center, Owen.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 6, at the United Methodist Church, Loyal. Officiating was Rev. Charles Sanford.

Burial was in the Loyal Cemetery. Full military rites were conducted by the Loyal American Legion. Serving as pallbearers were Walter Hoffman, Byron Zepplin, Robert Bertz, Dale Kauffman, Vincent Lindner and Clemens Esselman. Rinka Funeral Home, Loyal, handled arrangements.

A 6:30 p.m. Masonic Service was conducted on April 5.

James Roy Thomas was born on Oct. 6, 1890, in the Town of Sherman, Clark County, to Don A. and Mary A. (nee Sauvain) Thomas. He received his education at Spokeville School and Loyal Elementary School. He graduated from Loyal High School in 1907 and attended Oshkosh Normal School from 1910 - 1912. He received his Bachelor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mr. Thomas began his teaching career at Spokeville School, where he was employed from 1907 - 1908. He taught at Mack School from 1908 - 1910.

After attending Normal School in Oshkosh, he graduated and earned a two-year teachers' certificate, which enabled him to get a position at Sebeka, Minn. as principal.

From 1917 to May 1918, he was principal of Union Free High School in Melrose. A veteran of World War I, he joined the Army and entered Officers Candidate School, from which he emerged as second lieutenant. He was assigned to the Army camp at Kentucky as instructor in field aritllery.

In Jan. 1919, he returned to Sebeka as high school principal. He then became assistant cashier at the Loyal State Bank in June 1919, but after six months he decided he would be happier as an educator and entered the University of Wisconsin to continue his studies.

From 1920 to 1924, he was principal of New Glarus High School and from 1924 - 1937, he was principal at Loyal Public Schools. He served as principal of Spencer Public Schools from 1937 - 1941, and also did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin in 1931 and 1942.

From 1942 to 1946, he served as an instructor in the Army Airways Communication School at Truax Field, Madison and Scott Field, Belleville, Ill. During a six month period in 1947, he was a training officer for the Veterans Administration, Milwaukee.

He returned to teaching at Loyal High School in 1947. Although he retired from full-tim teaching in 1960, he continued to teach in the Loyal High School as a part-time mathematics teacher. Prior to entering the Health Care Center, he had been living in retirement in the City of loyal.

He was a member of the Loyal United Methodist Church a life member of National Education Association First Worshipful Master of Loyal Lodge No. 335 a member of Neillsville Chapter No. 60, Royal Circle Masons a member of Neillsville Commandary No. 36 a member of Eau Claire Consistory member of the Marshfield Council No. 39, Royal and Select Masters a member of the Veterans of world War I - Barrack No. 2319, Wis. a member of the Loyal American Legion Post 175 a member of the Loyal Rotary club and a member of the Loyal Hosing Authority.

He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and the Wisconsin and National Education Associations. He also received the Silver Beaver Award for leadership in Scouting and was director of the Clark County Historical Society.

Surviving him are one nephew, Tom Fisher of Sarasota, fla. And two nieces, Mrs. Ralph (Hazel) Saveland of Holland, Mich., and Norma Laessig of Marshfield.

Preceding him in death were his parents and three sisters, May, who died in infancy, Clara, and Stella.

A J. R. Thomas Memorial Fund, for a memorial scholarship or library fund, will be started at Citizens State Bank of Loyal. Checks should be made payable to the bank.

 

 


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