Johnston
Thomas George Essex, 57, passed away on Friday, January 15 at University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Windsor United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.
Tom was born May 1, 1952 to Henry Thomas and Jean Amy (Kuder) Essex in Davenport, Iowa, and graduated from West High in Davenport in 1970. He served in the United States Navy as a Medical Corpsman from March 1975 to January 1981 and graduated from San Diego Lab School before being transferred to the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia where he met his wife, Lisa Sue Rhodes. They were married on December 10, 1977 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Together, they returned to Iowa in 1980 and raised two children.
He received a B.S. Degree in Business Management from Upper Iowa University and retired from Mercy West Clinic in Clive, Iowa, in 2008 following a spirited battle through multiple heart surgeries in 2004. He was dedicated, and thoroughly enjoyed, being actively involved in his children's activities and coaching baseball where his leadership provided direction to numerous young men over the years. Tom was a member of Windsor United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa, and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, golfing, baseball, hiking, theatre, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones in both football and basketball. He was also a proud supporter of St. Scholastica Saints baseball, where his son played from 2001-2004.
Following their retirement in 2008, Tom and his wife enjoyed living in Tucson, Arizona, where he was able to enjoy the outdoors hiking with his wife and of course, more time on the golf course. Additionally, he and his wife enjoyed working the Cross Street Ministries Program at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson.
He is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife, of over 32 years, Lisa; daughter, Amie of Phoenix, AZ; son, Stuart (Jodi) of Johnston, IA; grandson, Kael Ternes of Johnston; mother, Jean Amy Essex of Davenport, IA; sister, Connie Norman of Davenport, IA; nephew, Jim (Lori) Hanson of Bettendorf, IA; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Tom was preceded in death by his father, Henry Thomas Essex of Davenport, IA; his grandparents; and aunt, Jane Kuder of Corydon, IA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Scholastica Baseball or Windsor United Methodist Church.
