Tom Lynn Ballard

There will be a visitation at Ankeny Funeral Home at 1510 W. First St., Ankeny, on Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Grimes at 410 SE Third St. Grimes, IA.

Tom was born Oct. 15, 1946, and grew up in Ankeny, IA. He graduated from NE Missouri State University, Kirksville, MO, in 1969. He was affiliated with Sigma Tau Gamma and remained lifelong friends with many of his brothers.

Following graduation, he served as an infantry officer with the 1st Marine Div. in Vietnam. He met and married his wife of 42 years, Susan, in Washington, D.C., and they lived for the next 30 years in Virginia where Tom worked in the computer industry for Honeywell and Cordant Systems.

It was during these years that Tom learned to sail and his passion became sailboat racing on the Chesapeake Bay and in Key West, FL, with his crew on his sailboat “Snakeyes.” In 2001, following his retirement, Tom and Susan moved to Granger, Iowa. Tom had an adventuresome spirit and enjoyed all sports, loved Hawkeye football, Cyclone basketball, the Packers, but most of all the Yankees. He enjoyed hunting, camping, fly fishing, golfing, skiing, woodworking, and travelling. Tom had a Commercial Pilot’s License and was a flight instructor with over 1900 hours of flight time.

He enjoyed teaching others to “soar,” especially his favorite student, Ronald Autry. Tom served on the Truman State Foundation Board and the Xenia Board. He was affiliated with the U.S. Marine Corps. Assoc., U.S. Navy League, the Ankeny American Legion, Post 42, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Grimes.

Tom is survived by his wife, Susan; his parents, Gerald and Marie Ballard of Ankeny; his sister, Karen (Lyle)Avey of Lubbock TX; his two nephews, Mike Avey and Mark (Lois) Avey of TX, and a great niece, Kayla (Ryan) Bender of TX.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jon, and grandparents, Frank and Erma Ballard and Ed and Verna Howard, and his close friend, Bryce Hanke. A special thank you to all his wonderful friends who transported him to and from Mayo Clinic for treatments and made his summer so very special. Also many thanks to the doctors at Mayo Clinic and the wonderful care he received at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion, Post 42, of Ankeny, or The First Presbyterian Church of Grimes. Semper Fi!