JOHN THOMAN JR.
 THOMAN, John Herman, Jr., age 76, of The Woodlands, Texas, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at Houston Methodist Hospital, in the presence of family. John was born to John and Kathaleen Thoman on April 6, 1945, at 1532 Avenue G in Ft. Madison, Iowa. He grew up in Fort Madison and graduated from Fort Madison High School in 1963. After attending the University of Iowa, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he was looking forward to becoming a naval aviator, before being honorably discharged in 1967. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970, John built an international career on the back of his grit, his pride, and his industrial technology engineering acumen. For over 40 years, he dedicated his sharp mind and his relentless work ethic to designing defenses for the United States military, enhancing cancer research equipment and optimizing automobile production and aeronautical automation around the world. John lived with wonder and appreciation for the international adventures he earned through his hard work. From Avenue G in Fort Madison, Iowa, he went on to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, take safaris throughout sub-Saharan Africa, off road in the Australian Outback, and build relationships with people while working in Tokyo, Turin, Tolyatti and nearly everywhere in between. By his own account, the immense geographical gap between where he started life and where it later took him was one of his greatest accomplishments and a source of inner peace—so, too, was the diverse collection of friends he made throughout his journey. But no accomplishments brought greater pride and joy to John than those he made as his family’s patriarch. A proud father and an amazing grandfather, John’s most recent times of family bonding occurred while taking them to the shores of Mexico and the beaches of Jamaica. Always a fan of sports, John was not one to miss a round of golf with a cigar in tow, a USC game at The Coliseum complete with tailgating, a fall field hockey game, spring soccer match, a summer swim meet or a halftime dance show during high school football games. Everyone who knew John, can attest to his immense pride in seeing his children happy, healthy and with families of their own. His presence in their lives and at their dinner tables will forever be missed. John is survived by a son, Todd Thoman, his wife, Tiffany and her sons, A.J. and Niko, in Houston, Texas; a daughter, Kimberly Swanson and her husband, Zack in Nolensville, Tennessee; a grandson, Blair Thoman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and two granddaughters, Lauren Thoman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Zoe Swanson of Nolensville, Tennessee. With them, he leaves the fondest of memories and the firm guidance that family is everything. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Patricia Decklever and Judy Carbonaro. With them, he now resides. Per his wishes, his body is to be cremated, and in honor of his spirit, his ashes will be sprinkled over the blue waters of the Caribbean at a later date. A family gathering to celebrate his life will take place on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at the Bradshaw-Carter Memorial and Funeral Center in Houston, Texas.
