Obituary of Thomas Lou Ginger

    Thomas Lou “Tom” Ginger, son of Daniel W. and Verla Iona (Matheson) Ginger, was born May 15, 1945 at Primghar, IA. He spent his youth in the Primghar area, where he received his education, graduating from Primghar High School in 1963.

    On March 20, 1965, Tom was united in marriage to Connie Lou Prine at Sanborn, IA. The couple called Sanborn “home” for 49 years, and raised their four children here as well.

    Tom was employed as manager of Farmers Coop Oil Company in Sanborn from 1969 to 1979 when he took the position of LP manager for the same company working out of Sheldon, IA. Even after he retired in 2010, Tom would help them out whenever he could.

    Beginning in 1971, Tom served as a part-time police officer for the city of Sanborn, a position he held for several years. He was also instrumental in opening the Sanborn Gun Club in 1976, and was one of the owner/operators until it disbanded in 2014. Tom was always supportive of the town of Sanborn, acting as its Mayor for 10 years; making many new friends and acquaintances. He also enjoyed being involved with the annual Sanborn Railroad Days celebration, riding in, or driving the antique fire truck with his grandchildren joining him. Having been a loyal member of the Sanborn Fire Department for 49 years, he was quite familiar with fire trucks! Tom was also one of the first EMTs for the local ambulance team, serving in that capacity for many years as well.

    Tom’s love of hunting and collecting guns made being a director of the O’Brien County Sportsman’s Club a natural fit. The past few years he had worked part-time assembling firearms at Jard in Sheldon, and he always had his eye out for unique coins to add to his collection. Occasionally, he would mow or handle odd jobs for the city of Sanborn, or help his daughter cater for Red’s Café.

    With all the activities Tom was involved in, his favorite thing was just spending time with his grandchildren. He loved taking them places - doing “donut-days”, making trips to the fire station or shooting at the gun club and reloading ammunition. He considered any time with his family, time well spent. Tom passed from this life on Friday, May, 4, 2018 at the age of 72.

    Preceding him in death were his parents, Dan and Verla Ginger; his mother and father-in-law, Bob and Shirley Prine; one sister, Marcella Ginger; and grandson, Gabriel Reitsma.

    Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Connie of Sanborn; his children: Tammy (friend, Steve Lux) of Hartley, IA, Cristy of Sanborn, IA and her daughters, Heather of Sanborn, IA and Haley (Caleb) Malenke of Omaha, NE, Tommy of Primghar, IA and his sons: Carter of Primghar, IA, Cody (friend, Leigha Van Veldhuizen) of Iowa City, IA, Cole of Granville, IA, and Craig of Spirit Lake, IA, and Wendy Lou (Heath) Reitsma, their children: Lacie, Luke, and Bree of Ankeny, IA; sister-in-law, Pam Prine of Sanborn, IA; brothers: Daniel and Elaine of Primghar, IA, Roger and Anne of Everly, IA, Orville and Kathy, and Burdette and Darlene all of Primghar, IA; sisters: Eleanor and Loren of Primghar, IA, Joyce and Steve of George, IA, and  Janet and Bob of Sheldon, IA; other relatives and friends.

Celebration of Life

Thomas L. Ginger

Born ~ May 15, 1945 

Died ~ May 4, 2018

Age ~ 72 years    11 months    19 days

Funeral Service

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 ~ 1:00 p.m.

St. Andrew's United Methodist Church

Sanborn, Iowa

Clergy ~ Rev. Marvin Lindley

Pianist ~ Starla Reitsma

Special Music

Processional ~ Nate Schreur

“Lord, I Need You”

Eric Rozeboom

“One Day At A Time”

CD Selection

“When I Get To Where I’m Going”

Recessional ~ “Behold, Our God”

Pallbearers

Cody Ginger   Cole Ginger   Craig Ginger   Caleb Malenke

Keith Lyman   Adam Roelfs   Carter Ginger   Steve Lux  

Luke Reitsma   Heath Reitsma   Tommy Ginger

Honorary Pallbearers

Sanborn Fire Department  ~  Sanborn Police Department

O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office  ~  Sheldon Police Department

Gary Grapevine  ~  Jerry Bosma  ~  Bill Koopman

Ushers

Gary Japenga  ~  Mike Dummett  

Interment

Roseland Cemetery

Sanborn, Iowa