Thomas I. Nutting

Thomas Irwin Nutting, 84 of Glenwood, IA entered into rest at his home in Glenwood on July 30, 2015. He was born July 15, 1931 in a modest home above Nuckolls Street in Glenwood, IA to Harlan Daniel Nutting, Sr. & Leona Irwin Nutting. Glenwood would always be his home, but before he could settle down he joined the U.S. Air Force & set out to see the world. Thomas married Lois Irene Wiley on Dec. 27, 1950 in Council Bluffs, IA & their world journey began. They moved to Wichita Falls, TX then to Alexandria, VA where their first two sons Donald & Dennis were born.

The Air Force & the Farm Bureau Agency, where he was employed in Malvern & Glenwood asked a lot of Tom, and he always met the challenge. On June 24, 1958 only luck, & Lois in labor, prevented him from being on a spy aircraft that was shot down. This threat of danger did not deter him in his service to country. In Germany Tom & Lois had their third son, Daniel. From there they went to Florida, Okinawa and then home to Glenwood.

Tom carried his small family around the world, always watching over them. His boys became men & set out on their own life’s journey and he never stopped watching over them and the four living grandchildren whom he cherished.

A child of the depression Tom grew up with no money, but was never poor. He always had the love of the large Irwin family to nurture him & his sons. As a young man he hardly left southwest Iowa, as a man he visited parts of the world we shall never see. His service to country, with multiple tours to Viet Nam as noted by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, was exemplary. His service to family, his community, which he was deeply involved in the Masonic Lodge, VFW, Glenwood Public Library Board, Treasurer of the Dollars for Scholars, President of the Glenwood Alumni Association & Scout Master Troop 243. Tom was devoted to the First Christian Church where he was an Elder and involved in many leadership positions in the church. He was a true Christian example to all & exemplified qualities of loyalty & community spirit. His faith sustained him after Lois passed away in 1996 after a long & difficult illness. Tom proved himself a loving & faithful husband by supporting her & being by her side. New life came after when he re-found Charlene Nelson Pearce. They were united in marriage on Nov. 1, 1997 in Glenwood, IA. Charlene was a blessing, surely sent by an angel to love Tom & share his later life.

So a life’s journey from Glenwood to Glenwood, what better tribute can a man have for his community, for his home town than to choose it for all eternity. What better tribute can we have for such a man than to call him loving husband, father & friend.

Preceding Tom in passing were his parents, wife Lois, brother & sister-in-law Harlan & Marie Nutting; grandsons, Damon & Cody Nutting. Survivors include his wife Charlene Nutting of Glenwood, IA; children, Donald (Paula) Nutting of St. Charles, MO; Dennis (Cathy) Nutting of Hilo, HI; Daniel (Juli) Nutting of Custer, SD; grandchildren, Adam Nutting, Alex (Rachael) Nutting, Austin Nutting & Michelle Nutting; step-children, Vicki Buum of Olivet, SD; David (Rose) Pearce of Bellingham, WA; Debora Hendry of Fremont, NE; Bill (Vanessa) Pearce of Yuba City, CA; 17 step-grandchildren; 24 step-great grandchildren; nieces, Cathy (Jay) McCowan; Angela (Doug) Powell; Cheryl (Tom) Schwartz; extended relatives & many friends.

Interment will be held in the Glenwood Cemetery Wed. Aug. 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church or Glenwood Public Library.

Visitation:Sunday, August 2, 2015
6:00 PM
202 N. Vine Street
Glenwood, IA51534

Service:Monday, August 3, 2015
10:00 AM
202 N. Vine Street
Glenwood, IA51534