Thomas Edward Earp

Thomas Edward Earp, 101, of Sully, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at The Cottages in Pella. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1 at the funeral home. Masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced. Memorials to the Killduff United Methodist Church may be left at the funeral home.  

Thomas, the son of Charles and Bertha (Briggs) Earp, was born Dec. 12, 1919, at his family’s home in Elk Creek Township of rural Killduff. As a teen, he went forward to accept Jesus as his Savior during a camp meeting in Galesburg. Thomas served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. On Feb. 20, 1943, Thomas was united in marriage with Virginia Compton in Hattiesburg, Miss. After his return from the service, he made his lifelong home back in Jasper County. Thomas worked as a farmer, sheep shearer and had a 33-year career at the Maytag Company in Newton; retiring in 1986. He always stayed busy though and was widely known for raising German Shepherds and his extensive garden, which he sold much of the produce from at local farmer’s markets. He also enjoyed making pies and cookies. Thomas was a dad and grandpa to everyone from his children’s friends to the nurses that loved him at The Cottages.

Thomas is survived by his children, Warren (Pat) Earp of Florence, Texas, Louise Rorebeck of Ankeny, Diane Earp of Cedar Rapids, Wyatt (Cindy) Earp of Osage Beach, Mo., Lenis De Cook of Sully and Sheila (Loren) Greenough of Urbandale; grandchildren, Jason (Joanna) Earp, Allyson (Randy) Springer, David (Lynda) Barton, Rachel Barton, Ria (Andy) Newcomb, Katlyn (Curtis) Kerr, Lacie (Ronnie) Dykstra, Craig Thomas (Kari) Gosselink, Tessa (RJ) Van Dyke, Danielle (Derek) Van Wyk, Adam (Catherine) De Cook, Tara (Jordan) Vos, Victoria (Joel) Lewicki and Auburn (Colin) Van Kooten; his great-grandchildren, Cody, Ryan Kyle, Reed, Nick, Mariah, Isaiah, Zion, Israel, Addison, Sage, Chase, Lance, Collin, Dalton, Kaiden, Terran, Merra, Emma, Eddie, Casen, Conner, Jonah, Audrey, Reuben, Elise, Simon, Matthew, Benjamin, Violet, Silas, Penelope, Blaine and Beau; his sister, Phyllis Mitchel of Pulaski, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia; daughter, Rhonda Gosselink; sons-in-law, Arvin De Cook and Craig Gosselink; three sisters; two brothers-in-infancy; and grandson-in-law, Joseph Lane.