Thomas Elmore Ball

Thomas Elmore Ball was born on May 10, 1943 in Spencer, Iowa. He was the youngest of Theodore and Velma Ball's six children. At the young age of eleven, Tom began working for local farmers to earn money for his own necessities. He has always been a strong and dependable worker. Tom was also an extraordinary athlete and competed at the State Track Meet for 3 years. Tom and Jackie were classmates from First grade through their high school graduation in 1962. Though they got along as friends, and he would tease her, they didn't date until five years after graduation. In 1963, Tom joined the United States Army. He served as an MP in Korea. He was later stationed in San Antonio, TX where he had the responsibility of guarding aircraft reserved for the transportation of military and civilian personnel among whom included the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. After being discharged from the Army, Tom worked for a local farmer milking cows. Tom and Jackie's first date was during Easter weekend in 1967. He married his true love, Jacqueline Mary McKeever, on August 27, 1967. Tom had back surgery in June of 1967; therefore, after they were married he was unable to work for several months. His first job was for the Mobil fertilizer company in Everly. From there, he got a job with the Co-op Elevator in Linn Grove delivering gas and feed. He then worked for a plumber out of Peterson for a couple of years. Tom began working for Crescent Electric Supply Company in Spencer, Iowa as a counter salesman. They moved to Spencer in 1973. He later became the "on the road" salesman. Tom worked with Crescent for 27 years. He was well thought of by the customers he called on and kept in touch with several of them until his death. Tom and Jackie's dream came true in the spring of 1989 when they purchased an acreage in rural Linn Grove. They had many different animals and birds. Multiple preschoolers visited this petting zoo for field trips. Tom and Jackie especially loved raising their horses. The passions in Tom's life were his family, grandchildren, hunting, fishing, camping, walking, and time with friends. He and Jackie were each other's best friend. They did everything together. They loved to hunt, fish, play cards, shoot baskets, and play pool. They were very competitive in everything they did. His appreciation for his family grew through the years of his life. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in December of 1999. He also had to deal with a rare form of Alzheimer's know as "The visual variant" which caused him to slowly lose his eye sight. He accepted this with great humility. Tom NEVER complained nor questioned "Why?" Sadly, on their wedding anniversary in the year 2000, Tom and Jackie held their auction. As their acreage sold quickly, they moved to Eagle Grove and lived there for three years. From there, they moved to Sutherland, where they have been living ever since. This is where they've felt a part of a new family. They were dearly welcomed by members of the Church of Christ where they instantly felt at home. When Tom couldn't read anymore, each night she would read their devotions to him along with many western books, which they both loved. On Independence Day, 2005, Tom was visited by U.S. Congressman Steve King, and presented with his much anticipated National Defense Medal and Sharp Shooter Badge. On February thirteenth, Tom suffered the first of several strokes. Because of these, his disease rapidly progressed. Tom peacefully passed away at the age of 64 on Friday, March 28th. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Teddy and Oliver. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jackie of Sutherland, two daughters and their families: Michelle Swanson and daughter, Kelsey of Hawarden; Andrea Hernandez and husband, Cesar, and three sons, Storm of Hartley, Jackson, and Oliver of Windom, Minnesota; and son, Josh Ball and wife, Carrie, and three children, Evan, Aiden, and Julia of Sutherland; brother, Dale and wife Mary of Chino Hills, California, sister; Lil Pelton and husband Rich of Montague, California; brother, Ed and wife Jean of Greenville, Iowa; sister in-law, Jill Yriarte of Fort Dodge, IA; brother in-law, Jerry McKeever & wife Minnie of Sioux Rapids, IA; sister in-law, Jeanette Cahalan and husband Dick of Eagle Grove, IA; several nephews, nieces, cousins, and many friends.

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