Jane Thomas

Jane E. (St. Clair) Thomas was born to Ernest “Wink” and Ellen St. Clair on June 13, 1945, in Jefferson. Jane grew up on the family farm south of Jefferson with her parents and her brother, Dick. She loved horses, did farm chores, drove tractors, showed Angus cattle in 4-H, and enjoyed helping her dad outside on the farm.

After graduating high school, Jane became a surgical tech and worked for both Methodist and Mercy Hospitals in Des Moines. It was during this time that she met Robert “Bob” Thomas and they were married on July 12, 1964.

Many remember Jane from shopping at her business “The Décor Shoppe” or the little seed store where she sold seeds and plants. Her family also had a small truck farming business, where one year her they grew 500 tomato plants. Jane used her skills and her love of farming to rig the garden tractor to pull wagons and sprayers. She could even be seen working around town, driving her tractor and working on the landscape at the courthouse.

For several years, Jane worked for the Ringgold County Sheriff’s office as a jailor/dispatcher. However, the thing that most people remember Jane for is her musical talent. Jane started taking piano lessons at a young age, and in high school, her parents bought an organ. Jane was hooked. The whole family took lessons, but Jane excelled. She became church organist at the Central Christian Church in Jefferson.

After she and Bob moved to Mount Ayr, she became well known in Southern Iowa for her Big Band dance band, “The Jane Thomas Trio.” She was also an active participant in the Ringgold Singers, taught piano and organ lessons, and she and her family gave 17 Christmas concerts as a gift to their community. Her children, Sean and Angela, grew up performing piano, organ and vocal numbers at the annual Christmas concerts. Jane played for countless weddings and funerals, as well as being the church organist for the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.

After retiring, Jane found new hobbies including sewing and embroidery. She spent time making clothes for her kids and grandkids; gifts for her family and friends. She spent the last two years residing at Clearview Home and created gifts for staff that had new babies and other friends and family.

Besides music, the thing that Jane was most passionate about was her family. She and Bob had two children, Angela Pearl (James); and son, Sean Thomas (Jennifer); four grandchildren, Alyssa and Caleb Pearl and Austin and Aria Thomas.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard St. Clair and her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Thomas.

Please consider contributing memories at the Kudo Board Link

https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/pKVHHnZr/janeethomas located in Jane’s obituary at www.armstrongfh.com.

A Celebration of Life service is being planned for 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Ringgold County Public Health