Jerome D. (Jerry) Thomas, the son of Homer Dorwin and Clara June (Clifton) Thomas, was born December 22, 1948, in Hamburg, Iowa. He passed away on February 3, 2018, at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 69. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.  Interment will follow in Linden Cemetery, Rock Port.  Services will be conducted by Rev. Rodney Hopper. There is no scheduled family visitation. Open visitation begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.
He graduated from Hamburg High School in 1967 and attended college for one year at Iowa Western, Clarinda, Iowa.  Jerry excelled in baseball and in 1968 was offered a contract to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds.
On January 19, 1968, Jerry was united in marriage to Patricia Graves and they became the parents of four children, Kerry, James, Mindy and Clint. They later divorced.  On March 10, 1989, Jerry was united in marriage to Betsy Reynolds at the Rock Port Christian Church.  At this time, Jerry also became a father to her three daughters, Amy, Lora and Anne.  They made their home in Rock Port until his death.
Jerry worked several jobs throughout high school, which included working the farm with his father. After a year of college, Jerry worked at American Meter Company in Nebraska City, Nebraska, before returning to farming.  In 1983, Jerry began working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).   It was while working for MoDOT that he was given the nickname “Bull” by his supervisor.  He retired in 2006, as the Barn Foreman at Tarkio, Missouri.
Jerry and Betsy enjoyed camping and belonged to S.H.E.R.T (State Highway Employees Retired and Tired) camping group.  He also enjoyed fishing, wood working and coaching his children when they played softball and baseball. Jerry made sure he attended EVERY activity in which they participated. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and talking to everyone.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father, infant son, James, and grandparents, Homer and Glee Thomas and Chet and Ruth Clifton.  Survivors include: wife, Betsy Thomas, Rock Port; children, Kerry Thomas, Fillmore, Missouri, Mindy (Bill) Walker, Maryville, Missouri, Clint (Holli) Thomas, Mason City, Iowa, Amy Reynolds, Portland, Oregon, Lora (Chris) Burki, Papillion, Nebraska, and Anne (Nathan) Wilson, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; 9 grandchildren, Will, Hannah, Ben, Carter, Emilie, Gage, Hailey, Grayson and Kade; mother, June Thomas, Hamburg, Iowa; brother, Jeff (Jeannie) Thomas, Hamburg, Iowa; brother-in-law, Gary (Susie) Schaffer, Nebraska City, Nebraska; numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association. Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com ~ Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.