William Clark Thomas, 94, recently of Caliente, California and previously of Superior, Wisconsin passed away peacefully in his home during the late evening hours on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, after a brief illness.
He was born August 23, 1924 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Albert Percival Thomas and Dorothy Dorr (Clark) Thomas. His family moved to Bismark, North Dakota where he attended grammar and high school. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force during World War II and served in the Pacific Theater.
After receiving an honorable discharge he moved to Deephaven, Minnesota. He married Lois Lorraine Layman of Deephaven in Bismark, North Dakota on May 20, 1946. Together they had three daughters. They moved to Sunnyside, Washington and lived there from 1951 to 1953 and then moved back to the Lake Minnetonka area in Minnesota.
He worked as a meat cutter at IGA, Foodliner and Red Owl stores and attended Minnetonka Community Church and then Calvary Memorial Church in Navarre, Minn.
They moved to Lutsen in 1970 where he became the chef and restaurant manager at Cascade Lodge in Lutsen and the Bluewater Café in Grand Marais, and attended the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Marais. They moved to Silver Bay, in 1986 and attended the Palisade Baptist Church there. He managed the Harbor House Restaurant in Two Harbors from 1986 to 1990 when he retired.
They moved to Superior, Wisconsin in 1995 where they attended the First Evangelical Covenant Church. His beloved Lois passed away July 17, 1998 St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth after a brief illness. In May of 2007, he met the second love of his life, Joyce Lucile Beckman from Guide Rock, Nebraska. They were married on July 4, 2007 in Johnstown, Ohio and they resided in Superior, until March 2019 when they moved to Caliente, California. While still in Superior, he and Joyce attended North Bay Community Church in Superior for approximately two years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Percival Thomas and Dorothy Dorr (Clark) Thomas; his brothers Albert and Carl Thomas; his sisters, Julia (William) Dolder, Rose Thomas, Dorothy (John) Dee and Mary Jean (Stanley) Ratto; and his daughter, Lynn Kay (Edward) Wenger. He is survived by his sisters Mary Ann (Marvin) Marth and Rita (William) Zellweger; his daughters, Mary Ann (Daniel) Bueide and Carol Sue (William) Minor; his stepchildren Paul Beckman, Clyde Beckman, Judy Stack and Tom Beckman; his eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Second only to his Heavenly Father was his family. He poured his life into making his home a place of love, comfort and security. He taught the value of hard work, integrity and loyalty through example. He freely gave love, acceptance and forgiveness. He took joy in his children and grandchildren. He was a remarkable man who was loved and respected by all who came to know him.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at First Evangelical Covenant Church, 3311 Hammond Avenue, Superior, WI 54880.
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