Obituary of Thomas McDougall

Thomas Charles McDougall, the son of Stanley and Beulah (Graves) McDougall was born on April 4, 1946 in Sibley, IA. He was baptized, confirmed and a lifetime member of the American Lutheran Church of Melvin. He attended Melvin Public School and graduated from the Melvin High School in 1964. On March 11, 1966 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Germany, he was honorably discharged on November 11, 1969. Tom was united in marriage to Pauline Wilson on August 25, 1973 at the Little Sioux Lutheran Church of rural Milford. To this union one son was born, John. Following their marriage Tom started farming for K.W. Graves and quit farming after the fall harvest of 1997. He and his brother Kenny helped each other with the planting and harvesting of crops each year. Tom received his Real Estate License in 2001 and worked for Vander Werff and Associates in Sanborn until 2004. He served as a member of the Melvin Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years and was one of the first EMT’S when Melvin got their own ambulance and served for 10 years. Tom served as a city council member for eight years and then served as Mayor for eight years. While serving as mayor he helped bring rural water to the city of Melvin. He served on the Melvin Low Income Housing Board from 1979 – 1985 and again from 1994 – 2001, he served as president in 1998. In 1970 he joined the Melvin American Legion Guthrie Post #470 and served as the Commander of the Post from 1983 to 2011. He served on the Osceola County Veterans Memorial Committee and was instrumental in getting the memorial that sits on the Court House grounds. Tom enjoyed his family and especially his grandkids. He put his heart and soul into everything he did and was a gentlemen to everyone he knew. Following a courageous battle with cancer Tom passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the Veterans Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 66. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Pauline of 38 years; his son and daughter-in-law: John and Kimberly McDougall; granddaughter Alex: and grandson: Matthew all of Melvin, IA; sisters: Sharon Johnson of Howard Lake, MN, and Mary Sue (Harry) Schmidt of Minden, NE; brother-in-law: Paul (Caroyle) Wilson of Windom, MN; three Aunts: Ida Bracker of Melvin, IA, Louise Uden of Lucerne Valley, CA, and Mryle Graves of Ankeny, IA; six nieces and their families; two nephews and their families; many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Kenneth McDougall in 1999. Celebrating the life of Thomas C. McDougall Born ~ April 4, 1946 Died ~ August 8, 2012 Age ~ 66 years 4 months 4 days Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 13, 2012 American Lutheran Church Melvin, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Judith Johnson Organist ~ Fay Schall Soloist ~ Galen Rozeboom Special Music “After” “I’m In The Lords Army” Congregational Singing Processional ~ “Faith of Our Fathers” #500 Recessional ~ “Lead On, O King Eternal” #495 Pallbearers Paul Heitritter Jim Schaa Bill Hoffman Warren Anderson Gilbert Greenfield Terry De Graaf Honorary Pallbearers Robert Hartung Cary Hartfield Patrick Lynch Joel Melcher Allen Brandmeyer Mike Kleve Richard Engler Arnold Dwire Military Graveside Rites Conducted by Guthrie Post #470 ~ Melvin, Iowa Interment Baker Township Cemetery ~ Melvin, Iowa