John C Thomas passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, March 24, 2023, at Traditions of Frederic. He was 75 years old.

John was born January 2, 1948, in Blue Earth, MN, to Herbert and Dora Thomas; he was the youngest of 5 children. After graduating from Blue Earth High School, John was drafted into the US Army and sent to Vietnam. Though he received 3 purple hearts and various other medals, he was fortunate to return home after completing his service for his country.

John met and married Sandi Espenson after a very short courtship. Together they had 2 children, Christopher and Stephanie. Their marriage would last 19 years, but their friendship lasted his lifetime. In 1993, John married Dee.

John had several jobs as a young man and learned his true calling was with turkeys. After working at a hatchery for Land O Lakes, he took a job on a turkey farm. He ran his own turkey farm for many years in the town of Lorain before moving to the state of Virginia. There he worked for 2 turkey companies, Rocco Turkeys and Wampler Long Acre.

John’s physical health was compromised in his mid-40’s and would affect him long term until his death. This was later linked to his time and locations spent in Vietnam which never once affected the pride he had for serving his country.

John was a good man, a loyal friend, a caring brother, the fun uncle, a remarkable father, and a very proud grandpa and great-grandpa. His sense of humor was unique, enjoyed by many, and misunderstood by some. (Ha!) Laughter was his greatest gift to us all. Hearing him laugh would make you laugh. His children brought him the most joy; time spent with them (talking and laughing) could always lift him up, especially during his health struggles. To say John was opinionated is probably an understatement. He was always willing to share his thoughts and opinions, listen to your side if it differed, and then tell you that you were wrong (because he was always right, 99.9% of the time). He was generous, sometimes to a fault, always trying to help those that he could. John was a dog lover. He enjoyed multiple dogs in his lifetime, some raised from pups and some rescued. All were loved members of his home. He enjoyed flowers, interior design, and beautifying all the places he resided. John could be mischievous and enjoyed pulling your leg or setting you up and then saying, “PRANK!” And boy did he think that was hilarious. If there was something he didn’t care for, he “wouldn’t give you a wooden nickel for it.” He was loving, amazing, and simply the best. He will be missed.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Dora Thomas; his siblings, Eugene Thomas, Jeannie and her husband Wally Ristau, Harold and his wife Kass Thomas, and Lee Thomas.

He is survived by his children Christopher and Julie Thomas, Stephanie and Bill Siebenthal, his grandsons William (Emily) Primm, and Mark Siebenthal, his great-granddaughter Olivia Primm, mother of his children Sandi Thomas, his sister-n-law Anita Thomas, his brother-n-law Steven (Lori) Espenson, his sister-n-law Sharon (Todd) Schmidt, his nieces and nephews Kayla (Rick) Sykes, Amy Ihlen, Gregory (Leslie) Thomas, Angie (Dave) Will, Doug (Sue) Espenson, Johanna (Ryan) Stieber and Jacob (Shelly) Schmidt, his very best friend Greg (Leah) Anderson, and his great nieces and nephews.

A heartfelt ‘Thank you’ is extended to Traditions of Frederic for their care and compassion and patience; the staff went above and beyond for him daily. Thank you to St. Croix Hospice for assisting him during his stay as well.

There will be a gathering to celebrate John on Friday, April 7, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, at the Barrel House, Frederic, WI. Everyone is welcome.

You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at www.rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Homes in Frederic, WI, (715) 327-4475.

Last Update: Mar 31, 2023 12:40 pm CDT