Lawrence E. Thomas

Larry Thomas was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1926 to John and Emma Thomas. Like his friends, he attended neighborhood schools and played sandlot football whenever he could. The night before he enlisted in the navy, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment he often recalled with both pride and gratitude. Larry entered the U.S. Navy in June of 1944 and was stationed in San Pedro, California where he operated landing craft as a Seaman First Class. After the service, Larry attended the University of Nebraska and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. A tried-and-true Cornhusker, Larry met his wife to be, Phyllis Warner, on the steps of the Law College. The newlyweds moved to Denver, Colorado in 1950, eager to start a family near the mountains they had always loved. Larry and Phyllis had wanted four children – two girls and two boys – and they managed to do just that.

Initially, Larry took a job with Red Dot Oil as a salesman. Success in this position set the stage for his long career in trailer sales, first at Clark Equipment, then Timpte, and eventually his own company, which he founded and ran for nearly twenty years, Colorado Great Dane Semi-Trailers. Larry was proud of the success of his company and the many dedicated customers and loyal friends that he accumulated in his forty-year history in sales. But although he loved to work, Larry often said that the most important part of life was family. When their children were young, Larry and Phyllis took the family fishing, camping and skiing. And later, when their children were on their own, Larry collected the family for trips to Mexico and Hawaii. In retirement, Larry and Phyllis continued to travel, going as far as Australia and New Zealand, but more often staying closer to home, exploring the western states and visiting their children and grandchildren. Last summer, Larry and Phyllis celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary.

Larry had a long fight with cancer. He was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996, and eventually died of it on Monday, November 14th, 2011, at age 85. As was his hope, he passed away at home and in peace. His ashes are interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Phyllis; his children: Deb, Jan, Cyndi and Tim; and his six grandchildren: Mike, Andrew, John, Amy, Christian and Makenna.

Any donations can be sent to Christ Church 2950 S. University Blvd., Denver, Colorado, 80210, or to the Nebraska Masonic Home, 1300 Avenue D, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 60048.