Geraldine Cecelia (Diedrich) Thomas

Geraldine Cecelia (Diedrich) Thomas, 87, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Kahl Home in Davenport, on January 4th, 2018.

Gerry was born October 7th, 1930, in Clinton to the late George and Rose (Rickerl) Diedrich.  She grew up in the Goose Lake area and graduated Charlotte High School.  Her first job was at Mercy Hospital in Clinton.  In December of 1950 Gerry married Kenneth B. Thomas.   During their marriage, the couple lived in Bettendorf, Welton and DeWitt.  Ken preceded Gerry in death on April 17, 1986.   In addition to raising five children, she sold Avon and worked at DeWitt Bowling Lanes and also at DeWitt Cleaners.

Gerry was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt.  She enjoyed sewing, camping and square and ball room dancing.  Later in life, she traveled with Erwin Witt and moved to Yuma, Arizona, where they lived for over twenty years before returning to Iowa at the end of 2013.

Surviving are children, Mary Kay (Dean) Hackney  and KJ Thomas of Camanche, Jeanne (Barry Packer) Eble of Blue Grass, Teresa (Steve Mackey) Miller of Prescott, Arizona and Cathy (Randy) Harl of Bettendorf; grandsons, Jeremy (Amy) Eble and Mitch Payne; great-grandchildren, Ariana and Dietrich Eble; numerous step-grandchildren; brothers, Donald (Macel) Diedrich of Low Moor, Clarence (Marietta) Diedrich of Goose Lake and Richard (Diane) Diedrich of Georgia; sisters, Marilyn (John) Stevenson of Oxford Junction, Evelyn Fuegan of Preston and Ellen (Steve) Maxwell of Camanche;  an aunt and uncle, Virginia "Jeanne" Mumm and George Rickerl of Clinton; numerous other relatives.

Gerry was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Bill Miller.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2018, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.  A Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family would like to give special thanks to the caring staff at the Kahl Home and Genesis Hospice.

Condolences may be expressed and a photo tribute viewed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.

Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt is caring for the arrangements.