Thomas James Petrzilka

Thomas James Petrzilka, age 64, of Scranton, Iowa, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, April 11, 2011 at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa, with Dennis Oathoudt officiating and full military honors. Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton from 5 – 7 P.M. on Sunday where the family will greet friends. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Born on July 2, 1946 at David City, Nebraska, he was the son of James George and Mildred Amelia (Tomlin) Petrzilka. He grew up in Marne, Iowa, and enlisted in the United States Army at age 17 and served eight years attaining the rank of Sgt 1st Class. He served in Vietnam during the war as a medic. He was also stationed in Germany for several years. Following his military career he lived in Shelby, Harlan, and Council Bluffs before moving to Scranton in 1995. Tom enjoyed collecting angels and religious artifacts, spending time outdoors, playing poker, listening to music, and reading his Bible. Surviving are a son Thomas James Petrzilka Jr. of Scranton; a daughter Rebecca RaeDean Michell and her husband Bobby of Washington State; a daughter Kristina Skipton of Council Bluffs, Iowa; a daughter Sara Mohr and her husband Jayme of Le Mars, Iowa; six grandchildren; three sisters: Jean Stamp and her husband Lynn of Atlantic, Iowa, Betty McDowell and her husband Steve of Springhill, Kansas, and Millie Petrzilka of Shelby, Iowa; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and twin sisters Mary and Susan in infancy.