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09/05/2017
Brian Lee Thomas was born September 3, 1967, In Knoxville, Iowa, preceding the birth of his fraternal twin, Bradley, by 11 minutes.
Brian was the son of David Thomas and Lorna (Johnson) Thomas. Brian spent most of his life in Knoxville except for when he was serving in the Army in Germany and in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
He played guitar and was a member of the Swing Choir at Knoxville High School, graduating in 1986. Between his junior and senior year of high school, Brian was in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for the Army Reserve.
Brian enjoyed playing cards with friends, reading, coin collecting and watching the Dallas Cowboys. He was employed at several places in Knoxville including Round Window and Coast Hardware. He also worked at the VA Hospital and the Knoxville Area Hospital. Brian always enjoyed working with people everywhere he was employed. His smile was infectious.
On June 21, 1996, Brian married Nancy Dodd of Knoxville. With this marriage, Brian also added three step-daughters – Heather, Lori and Heidi – to his family. Brian and Nancy later divorced. Some of Brian’s happiest times were spent with the girls and their families.
Brian passed away on September 5, 2017, at the age of 50. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; step-sister Amy Snow, aunts: Marda Beth Price and Peggy Thomas; and uncle, Robert Zurcher.
Those left to cherish his memory include his parents, Lorna Thomas and David Thomas and Katie Snow of Knoxville; brother Brad (Lisa) Thomas; and sister Liz (Steve) DeMoss, all of Knoxville; Uncles Greg (LuAnne) Johnson of Lenexa, Kansas, Rob Price of Iowa City, Iowa; Pat Thomas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jerry Thomas of LaPlata, Missouri; and aunt Donna Zurcher of Kirksville, Missouri; step-sister Diane (Paul) Jensen of Fargo, North Dakota; and step-brother Ted Snow of Roundtop, Texas and his three step-daughters – Heather (Ben) Binns and family of Iowa City, Iowa; Lori (Barry) Gowdy and family of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Heidi (Luke) Smith and family of Knoxville.
Brian was also a favorite uncle to his nephew Ben Thomas of Ames, Iowa; and niece Janna DeMoss of Knoxville. Brian is also survived by several cousins and friends.
A memorial Service for Brian Thomas, age 50 of Knoxville, will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 10 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville with Rev. Brent Hanna Officiating.
The family will be present from 8 to 10 am, before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.
There will be a private burial at a later date.