Russell Lee Thomas, 64, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, left our presence to be with God on Sunday, May 14, 2017. A Memorial service will be held 2pm Friday, May 19, 2017 at the Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Ave. Visitation will be held from noon till service time with immediate family present at 1pm at the funeral home.

Russell was born July 9, 1952, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Leslie (Bud) and Doris (Larson) Thomas. Russell grew up in Sloan and went to Westwood High School. He attended mechanics school in Wichita, Kan.
Russell married Barbara Harrington on May 20, 1978, at St. Joseph Church in Sioux City. They lived in Sioux City until moving to Luton, Iowa, in 1979, where they raised a family together. They later moved to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, where he worked at Terra Chemicals/CF Industries for 46 years and retired in April of 2017. He also worked for several years at Park Jefferson Speedway as a NASCAR Official.

Russell had many hobbies and would talk to anyone about them. He was a great people person and knew someone, everywhere he went. He always had fun no matter what he was doing, whether he was with his many friends at work or his bowling league, playing sand volleyball, or spending time with his kids and grandkids. He enjoyed rock and roll, electronics, cars and his Plymouth Belvedere. He also loved collecting Lionel O-Gauge Trains and NASCAR. Russell was fond of the Boston Celtics and Harley Davidson motorcycles. He also coached high school bowling, watched “The Price Is Right” and played cards every day.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Thomas of Sergeant Bluff; one daughter, Lorelei (Bryan) Goodman of Sioux City; two sons, Christopher (Jenny) Thomas of Sioux City and Adam Thomas of Ankeny, Iowa; two grandsons, Holden and Marshall Thomas of Sioux City; Russell is also survived by his brother, Richard Thomas of Salix; a sister, Jane Guerra of Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his niece Kim Steinhoff.