Junior B. Thomas, age 78, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus at 4:50 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, 2018. To honor Junior’s life, a Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 11, 2018, at Tri-State Community Church, 12937 Derby Grange Road. Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, is in charge of arrangements.

Junior was born on December 15, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama, son of Elzie and Ruby (Stone) Thomas.

Junior was born, raised and spent the first 37 years of his life in Birmingham, AL, before moving to Milwaukee, WI, where he put down new roots for another 24 years. He eventually moved to Dubuque, IA, 16 years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed discovering the quiet life as he settled into retirement. Junior was a welder by trade and worked for Denny Warnock for many years, before moving on to Supersteel, which would be his last stop before retirement. Junior was a man who continually had a kind smile and a warm heart to share. He loved nothing more than to spend time with his great-grandchildren. Junior had an undeniable special bond with his granddaughter, Zolabeth, and loved every opportunity she would come to visit grandpa’s house and joyfully sit on his lap, or happily play with the horse and doll he lovingly kept there for her. He also enjoyed watching his great-grandchildren, Myla, Maverick, Zolabeth, Elsiemae and Violet, as they played with their continual collection of new toys which he so generously provided. Junior wished he could have seen his great-grandson, Josiah, grow into a young man, but was honestly thrilled to simply be able to hold him, and was honored to understand that Josiah Junior was named after him. He also loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom live out of state and was always excited to talk about their visits and phone calls. The family and friends of Junior, who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior rest assured that they will see him again soon, and that he is enjoying the glory and comfort of Jesus, awaiting the day when he will be reunited with us. We all love him so very much, and we rejoice that he is with his Savior in Heaven, though we will miss him greatly.

Those left to cherish Junior’s memory include

his children,
Kellie Duffin,
Patrick (Penny) Duffin,
Holly (Brian) Massman
and Michael (Tammy) Duffin;

his grandchildren,
Amanda (Haeyong) Jung, Elisabeth (Isaac) Barrientos, Annalise Yogerst, Melissa (Brent) Petersen, Jessica (Thom) Scharfenberg, Joshua Duffin, Allisa (John) Corfman, Caitlin (Nick) Glennon, Leah Massman, Jimmy Massman, Jonny Massman, Aspen Duffin, Regan Duffin and Jaden Duffin;

his great-grandchildren,
Eloise, Benjamin, Korra, Brent Jr., Brayden, Kaylee, Kendel, Olsen, Ivan, Myla, Maverick, Violet, Zolabeth, Elsiemae and Josiah Junior;

his brothers,
Jesse Thomas, Arizona
and James Thomas, Alabama;

and his extended family,
Henry (Maria) Yogerst, and their boys, Anastasios and Joshua, Menasha, WI.

Junior was preceded in death by his parents; 2 great-grandsons, Benjamin Yogerst and Dallas Duffin; and a brother, Daniel Thomas.