John H. Thornburg

John H. "T-Bird" Thornburg, 70, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 29, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ogden. Rev. Gordon Lundberg will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ogden. Carson - Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden is in charge of arrangements.

John Harold "T-Bird" Thornburg was born August 11, 1941 in Perry, Iowa, to Harold Isaac Thornburg and Phyllis Campbell Thornburg.

The Thornburg family lived in Bouton until 1956 when they purchased the family farm south of Ogden. John attended Ogden Community High School. He joined the Air Force in 1959. When his father passed away in 1962, John returned to the family homestead to farm and to assist his mother.

In July 1, 1971, he married Elizabeth Botos Hoagland in Kimberling City, Missouri. John and Betty built their first chicken house in 1971 on the family property.

John had many hobbies and interests which included flying airplanes, boating, golfing in couple's tournaments, traveling to Las Vegas with friends. He enjoyed spending the afternoon at the movies. He was an avid traveler. He loved car trips to see his grandchildren and points of interest all across America.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Betty; two daughters, Robyn and her husband Scott of Milton, Wisconsin, and Lisa and her husband, Carmen, of Las Vegas, Nevada; three granddaughters, Grace, Isabella and Sophia, and one grandson, Frank; two sisters, Zoe and her husband, Roger Bills of Laurie, Missouri, and Jeanne Tingwald of Duluth, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Israel Family Hospice House, 400 South Dakota Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50014.