Thomas Gach

Thomas Anthony, son of Frank and Margaret (Karl) Gach, was born August 22, 1950, in Chicago, IL. He moved with his family to Carroll in 1956. Tom graduated from Kuemper High School in 1968. He continued his education at Iowa Western Community College and graduated in 1970 with a degree in Tool and Die. On September 25, 1971, Tom and Nancy Hackfort were united in marriage and made their home in Carroll. Seven children were born to this union. Tom worked for Radiant Corporation until they were bought by General Electric, where he continued to work for 24 years. He then worked for Carroll County Conservation and most recently was a Quality Technician at Pella Corporation in Carroll. Tom was very involved in 4-H and was the Roselle Rustler 4-H leader. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Spirit Men's Club. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and his family was recognized as the KC Family of the Year. Tom donated many pints of blood to the Red Cross throughout his life and was an Organ Donor that helped change the lives of families he had never met. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, camping, gardening, and playing cards with the Card Club. He took great pleasure in caring for his cats and pulling his restored covered wagon in numerous parades. Tom's favorite activity was spending time with his family and close friends. Tom died after suffering a stroke at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines at the age of 62 years and very generously became an organ donor. Preceding him in death are his parents. He is survived by his seven children: Amy (Bill) Gerhardt of Ankeny; Diana (Chad) Jeffrey of Robins; Jim (Lora) Gach of Ankeny; Doug (Christa) Gach of Waukee; Michelle (Kevin) Kroeger of Carroll; Scott (Kari) Gach of Des Moines; and Joe (Andrea) Gach of Carroll; 18 grandchildren: Chelsea, Darian, Nick, Brooke, Abby, Michael, Dylan, Hunter, Nathan, Mackinzie, Morgan, Chase, Colin, Riley, Lindzey, Caden, Lauryn, Jayden; siblings Vicki Gach of Carroll; Julie (Tom) Woodruff of Redwing, MN; Gerard (Martha) Gach of Shrewsbury, MA; fiancé Joan Fleshner of Carroll; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Memorials will be used to make a donation to local 4-H clubs. Eucharistic Ministers BILL AND AMY GERHARDT Lectors BROOKE KROEGER ABBY GERHARDT EVA GACH Mass Servers MICHAEL GERHARDT NATHAN KROEGER MORGAN GACH Music "HERE I AM LORD" "AMAZING GRACE" "ON EAGLE'S WING" "AVE MARIA" "THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS MAY FALL SOLOIST ROSIE HAERTLING ORGANIST BARB MCDERMOTT Gift Bearers LORA GACH CHRISTA GACH ANDREA GACH CHELSEA GERHARDT DARIAN DELANEY MARGARET GACH RILEY GACH LINDZEY JEFFREY CADEN GACH LAUREN JEFFREY JAYDEN GACH MACKINZIE GACH Casket Bearers BILL GERHARDT NICK GERHARDT CHAD JEFFREY DYLAN MERCER COLIN GACH CHASE GACH CHARLES GACH CHARLIE WOODRUFF Honorary Casket Bearers PETER WOODRUFF EVA GACH MARGARET GACH CARD CLUB QUALITY DEPARTMENT AT PELLA Visitation 3:30 PM, Friday, July 19, 2013 Ohde Twit Funeral Home, Carroll 503 E. 1st Street Carroll, IA 51455 Rosary lead by Knights of Columbus at 4:00 PM Prayer Service lead by Father Tim Johnson 7:00 PM Funeral Service 10:30 A.M., Saturday, July 20, 2013 Holy Spirit Church, Carroll 219 South East Street Carroll, IA 51401 Interment will follow Mass at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.