MSgt Thomas G. Acton, USAF (Ret.)

MSgt Thomas G. Acton, USAF (Ret.) passed away Nov. 26, 2020, at the VA Medical Center in Des Moines.

Tom was born June 20, 1946, in San Diego, Calif., the son of Robert and Mildred Acton. He graduated from Doland, S.D., then enlisted to serve his country. He relocated to Iowa after retiring from active duty with the United States Air Force serving from 1964 to 1984, including a tour in Vietnam from 1970-1971. He was married to Rosanne DeKruif Sept. 30, 1971, in Chandler, Minn., with whom he had two children. He lived in Des Moines working as a Veterans Representative at Polk County Veterans Affairs. Later he married Vicki Geisler Dec. 6, 1999, settling in Newton.

Tom is survived by his wife, Vicki; son, Thomas (Jennifer) Acton; daughter, Elisabeth (Cameron) Wenzel; his grandchildren, Bailey, Brynn and Blake Acton; sisters, Marilyn Barrie and Elaine Lundy; and brother, Phillip (Christina) Acton. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Paula (Denny) Sult; his stepson, John Geisler; stepdaughter, Rachel Geisler-Miller; and stepgrandson, Tanner Miller. Finally, he is survived by his best friend in high school, Kenny Gilbert of Hitchcock, S.D. Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Schlegel; and stepfather, Leon Barrie; and brothers-in-law, Loyal Barrie and Lucky Lundy.

A funeral service will begin at noon Friday, Dec. 11 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave. in Des Moines, with visitation beginning one hour prior to service time. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at 2 p.m.