Thomas Jacob Raveling

Thomas Jacob Raveling was born in rural Peterson on March 23, 1917 to Peter and Etta (Thomas) Raveling. He spent his childhood years on a farm north of Peterson, and he graduated from Peterson High School in 1934. A lifelong farmer, he married Ellen Grange on December 5, 1937 in Peterson and started farming on the Grange farm near Cornell, IA. In 1945 they moved to the family homestead north of Peterson, where he farmed until he retired. Tom and Ellen have four children who all survive him: Rita and her husband, Norman Riis of Boulder, CO, Tom and his wife, Sandy of Glendale, AZ, David and his wife, Barbara of Peterson, IA and Joyce of Seattle, WA. Grandchildren and great grandchildren: Chris and Erich Wilbrecht of Jackson, WY, and their sons, Riis and Max; Susanne Riis and Rick Johnson of Boulder, CO, and their children, Nils and Elsa Johnson; Tony Raveling of Phoenix, AZ, Katherine Raveling of Phoenix, AZ; and Anne and Ryan Johnson of Spencer, IA and their twins, Alexa and Evan. Tom was an active member of the Peterson First Congregational Church. He served on the Peterson School board, Clay County Farm Bureau Board, Clay County Soil Conservation Board, Clay County Extension Board, a charter member of the Peterson Lions Club and a 4H Leader. Tom enjoyed fishing, pitching horseshoe, telling a good story, traveling, and square dancing. His wife Ellen passed away in 1991. Tom married Delores Burma in Las Cruces, NM on March 21, 1992. They wintered in Truth or Consequences, NM. Tom inherited a second family to love. They include Jerry Burma and his wife, Debbie of Las Cruces, NM; Penny and her husband, Monte Benning of Minnesota Lake, MN; Ruth Ledwein of Lake Crystal, MN; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by four sisters: Arla Higgins of Calistoga, CA; Luetta and her husband, Keith Parker of Visalia, CA; Mary Alice Plagman of Alta, IA; and Mavis and her husband, Jack Hornby of St. Paul Park, MN. He is also remembered by many other relatives and friends. Thomas passed away on June 2, 2006 at the Sioux Care Center in Sioux Rapids, Iowa at the age of 89. He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ellen; a grandson, Thomas E. Raveling; and four brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.

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