Tommy Raymond Vandemark, 84, died on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, Neb. He was born Oct. 31, 1938, to Hoyt and Marie (Trimpe) Vandemark in Dunlap. He was raised in Galland’s Grove and attended Ragged Hollow Country School. In 1946, the family moved to Woodbine. He attended country school on the Willow bottom until 8th grade. Tommy then started farming with his parents. After his parents sold the farm, he worked at Fontanelle Frames in Woodbine and Dorrance Seely’s Gas Station. Tommy married Donna Christo on Sept. 10, 1958, in Logan. The couple lived in Woodbine and then moved to Battle Creek and in 1965 they moved to Missouri Valley. Tommy worked for a farmer in Battle Creek and then for Bill Collins doing farm work and truck driving in Missouri Valley. He also worked for the International dealership in Missouri Valley from 1970 – 1980. From 1980 – 2002 he worked for the Harrison County Road Department. Donna died on Jan. 11, 2017.
Tommy enjoyed woodworking and made many pieces of toy furniture, wooden tools and road graders. He helped with 4-H when his kids and grandkids were young. He served on the Western Iowa Cemetery Association Board and was a member of the Harrison County Genealogy Society.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna Vandemark; daughter, Karen Alexander; and brothers, Charles, Freeman and Lawrence Vandemark. He is survived by two daughters, Jeanne (Larry) Engel of Tecumseh, Neb. and Diane (John) Abild of Atlantic; son-in-law, Jon Alexander of Juneau, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Grace (John) Shafer and Karolyn (Jim) Cave; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine with Connie McWilliams presiding over the service. The recorded musical selections were “How Great Thou Art” by Freeman Vandemark and “Daddy’s Hands” by Holly Dunn. The pallbearers were Jeff Clark, Matthew Myer, Jacob Clark, Timothy Myer, Austin Arndt and Luke Engel. Tommy’s final resting place is at the Oak Grove Cemetery outside of Missouri Valley.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
