William J. ""Bill Thomas

William J. “Bill” Thomas, 88, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff. His funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 9, 2008, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mitchell with Father Stephen Deaver officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard. Friends may visit from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Friday at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mitchell. Memorials may be made to St. Theresa Catholic Church or the donor’s choice.Bill was born September 3, 1919, at Dupont, Pennsylvania to Isaac and Louise (Salem) Thomas. He grew up and attended school at Scranton, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed at the Prisoner of War Camp at Scottsbluff. On April 14, 1945, he married Mary Merrigan at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mitchell. They lived in Greenville, South Carolina for about a year before returning to Mitchell. They owned and operated Thomas Grocery at Mitchell from 1949 to 1982. He also worked for the city of Mitchell as a police officer from 1969 to 1989. He served as the Mayor of Mitchell from 1990 to 1998. He was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, American Legion and the Police Officer’s Association. Bill was an avid golfer. Survivors include his loving wife of almost 63 years, Mary Thomas; sons, Bill (Mary) Thomas of York and Kevin (Jennifer) Thomas of Potter; daughters, Marilyn (Vance) Valerio of Omaha, Ann Thomas of Lander, Wyoming, Kathy Pramstaller of Scottsbluff, Jodene Burkhart of Scottsbluff, Sandra (Ray) Hanson of Kearney, Susan (Mike) Eggleston of Marshalltown, Iowa and Kim (Dan) Moore of North Platte; 22 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and brother, George Thomas of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Alice Koury and Rose Kulick; brothers, Al, Charlie and Mike Thomas; and sons-in-law, Bert Rogers, Tim Burkhart and Rudy Pramstaller.