Thomas L. Gavin
September 1, 2015Share using:
Thomas L. “Tom” Gavin, 89 of Dubuque, Iowa died Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade Iowa.
Funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 5th, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Rev. Steven Rosonke officiating. Entombment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery with military detail accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 4th, 2015 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a parish wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
Tom was born on March 7, 1926, to Leo and Florabelle (Klinkner) Gavin, in Temple Hill Iowa. Tom attended school at Temple Hill and Cascade, Iowa. Tom married Kathryn “Katie” Koob on April 20, 1948 in Cascade. He served in the United States Navy during WWII.
He was employed as an inspector at John Deere Dubuque, retiring in 1986 after 31 years of service.
As a young man, Tom had a successful boxing career in the Golden Gloves. He was well-known in eastern Iowa and even fought in a few pro boxing matches before he retired.
He was a member of St. Anthony Church in Dubuque, and a member of the John Deere/UAW Retirees.
Tom loved to eat ice cream, play Euchre, was an avid Golfer, and a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Katie; 3 Children; Shirley (Dan) Lanners, of Dubuque Lou Ann (Robert) Austin, Reno, Nevada and Gary (Rosemary) Gavin, of Iowa City. Nine grandchildren; Carrie (Richard) Brown, Jason Charley, Roger T. (Lori) Brown, Amy (Phillip) Wagner, Tom Pike, Joshua (Brittany Lippstock) Pike, Jonathan Pike, Heidi (Zachary) Williams, Katie (Adam) Wolf. Nine great-grandchildren; Collin, Eric & Chloe Brown, Julian Charley, Amelia & Bailie Wellner, Jase Pike, Alyssa Pike, and Sawyer Williams. His siblings; Jack (Beatrice) Gavin, of Maquoketa, Arlene (Jack) Cook, of Bettendorf, and Dave (Lois) Gavin, of Bernard; and sisters- and brothers-in-law; Rita Gavin, Celia Gavin, Florence Coyle, Joseph (Cecelia) Koob, Rose (Alfred) Smith, Helen (Dale) Weidemann, and Mary Lu (Francis) Takes. And many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Oscar Gavin, and Justin Gavin, his sister Lavonne Gavin; In-laws: Irene & Merlin Rogers Sr., and Wilmer Coyle.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association of Eastern Iowa.
Special thanks to the staff of Shady Rest Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque.
