Donald Tuisko Thomas

Don married Grace Vogelei on March 24, 1951 and was blessed with two daughters, Donna Grace Shiles and Darla Thomas Neal.

Don moved to Oklahoma with his parents and siblings in 1932. He left his parents farm to move to Utah where he worked as a ranch hand and a wrangler on a number of early westerns starring John Wayne and Ben Johnson. When the war years loomed, he moved back to New Jersey where he worked for his brother, Jim Thomas, until he went in the Army. Don served at the Battle of the Bulge and throughout Europe with Patton’s 6th Armored Division, where he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star among other awards.

Following the war, Don returned to New Jersey where he met and wed his loving wife, Grace. Shortly thereafter they and his brother Abe followed his brother Jim to Shawnee where Jim opened a new business, Thomas Industries, that manufactured model railroad cars and equipment. Don was an expert tool and die maker, always able to find solutions to difficult manufacturing problems. After the death of his brother Jim, he and his brother Abe worked for Dana Industries in Norman.

Don and Grace became avid members of the 6th Armored Division Association and traveled throughout the United States and Europe attending annual conventions and sharing stories with fellow WWII veterans and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, Grace, his brothers and sisters, Pauline, Jim, Jean, and twins Bill and Eleanor. He leaves behind a brother and sister, Abe Thomas and Grace Shiles, of Shawnee, two daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Jerry Shiles of Shawnee, and Darla and Bryan Neal of Edmond, two grandchildren and spouses, Philip and Jennifer Searle of Wichita and Lauren and Jayson North of Topeka, KS, and four great grandchildren, McCartney and Julian North and Emmalee and Savannah Searle.

A graveside services will be held at Resthaven Cemetery on Wednesday, October 12th at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 30658, Edmond, OK 73003.