Jeanne Marie Thomas

Jeanne was born on May 24, 1930, in Owatonna, Minnesota to Esther and Kasmer Gontarek. She was raised on a farm, the third of four children. In a time when many women didn’t earn college degrees, Jeanne graduated from Iowa State University with a major in Home Economics and a minor in Chemistry. Her early career included testing pressure cookers and working for Betty Crocker test kitchen writing recipes.

Jeanne married Michael Peter Thomas on June 16, 1956 in Madison, Wisconsin. They moved from Madison to Austin, Texas in 1963 on a hot day in August with no air conditioning. Despite all odds, they lived the rest of their lives in Austin where they raised their five children. Jeanne’s family was her pride and joy. She supported them making bread (8 loaves a week!), sewing vogue-style outfits for her daughters, driving innumerable carpools, and cheering at swimming meets and baseball tournaments. In addition, she found time to race sailboats and manage a small farm with her husband. In summers, Jeanne and Mike took extended camping trips with the family, and when their children were grown, Jeanne and Mike traveled extensively.

Jeanne was a lifelong snow skier, a prolific gardener, and an avid reader (she belonged to the University Ladies Book Club for many years) and she passed those passions on to her children and grandchildren.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Michael Peter Thomas, brother Marvin Gontarek, sister Denise Gontarek, and sister Joan Dickinson. She is survived by her five children: Susan Kelly and husband Terry, Michael Thomas II and wife Lindsay, Mark Thomas and wife Peggy, Judith McGuire and husband David, and Laura Huffman and husband Kent, and her 15 grandchildren: Sean Kelly, Kate Kelly, Michael Thomas III, Meredith Thomas, William Thomas, Alex Thomas and wife Rachel, Madison Donaghy and husband Connell, Adam Thomas, Jacob McGuire and wife Elizabeth, George McGuire, Olivia McGuire, Hannah Weller and husband Michael, Emily Vincent and husband Jack, Georgia Huffman, Maitland Huffman, and great-grandson Theodore Vincent.

Jeanne Thomas was a quintessential matriarch beloved by her children and grandchildren and known as Nana; her extensive family carries not only her memory but her strength of character. Jeanne will be remembered for her honesty, resourcefulness, and devotion to family.

The Visitation is Thursday, September 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas 78731.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 25, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 4311 Small Drive, Austin, Texas. 78731. A reception at the Community Center will follow.

Burial is at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Dr. Austin, Texas 78731.