Craig Thomas

Donald Craig Thomas passed away on November 15, 2023 at the Israel Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.

Craig was born on June 7, 1951, in Winterset, Iowa, to Don and Jean (Dingeman) Thomas. He graduated from Winterset High School in 1969, and earned a BA in studio art/ceramics from the University of Northern Iowa in 1980. He resided in Cedar Falls, Ames, and Story City.

Craig was a talented ceramist, creating pottery in his home. He played percussion while in high school, and later played six-string guitar for many years. Craig was an avid outdoorsman, and canoed the Boundary Waters territory and Iowa waters. He loved to join friends on camping and fishing trips.

He was employed most of his life. As a young boy, he delivered the daily afternoon Des Moines Tribune, and the Des Moines Sunday Register. While a student at ISU, he worked at the House of Pies. Later, he did construction and farm work, assembled transmissions at Sundstrand, and worked for Layne International digging water wells and conducting water tests.

Craig’s father, Don, was a POW in the Philippine Islands, and later imprisoned by the Japanese on their mainland during WWII. Craig was proud and honored to assemble artifacts of his father’s art and writings. These were displayed in an exhibit at the Winterset Public Library.

Craig resided in Ames for forty years, and will be missed by his many friends and neighbors. He is survived by his sister, DeLynn; niece and nephews, Rachel, Don and Nick; great niece and nephew Amara and Marteis.

Memorials in his memory may be made to the UNI Art Department.

A memorial service will take place in the Winterset Cemetery at a later date.