THOMAS D. BOOTHBY JR., 92, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Sunday, February 14th at Countryside Estates in Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. There will be military rites at graveside by L. A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V. F. W. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday. Visitation will be on Monday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home with the family present from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Thomas was born November 8, 1923 in Cherokee, Iowa to Thomas and Ruby (Wallace) Boothby. He attended Cherokee schools and graduated from Cherokee Wilson High School in 1942. He enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corp and spent 32 months with the 15th Air Force in Italy during World War II. He was married to Lucille Carlson on May 10, 1945 in Cherokee. Following his discharge he attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He returned to Cherokee and joined his father in the funeral business. He worked until his two sons returned from school to join him in the business. He retired in the 1970's but still maintained contact with business dealings. Lucille passed away on July 23, 1988. Tom later married Irma "Daisy" Ehrich on September 9, 1989 at Lake Okoboji, Iowa.

He was a member and elder of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, L. A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W., Treptow Post #230 of the American Legion,50 year member and Past Master of Speculative Lodge #307 A.F. & A.M. and 50 year member of Eastern Star. He served on the Cherokee City Council from 1959 until 1965; then served as Mayor from 1966 until 1970. Tom was selected as the First Annual Cherokee Citizen Hall of Fame award in 1977 and the First Business Person of the Year award in 1980. He had served as President and member of the Cherokee Public Library Board, had served on the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Commission for over 20 years, had been a charter member and Co-Chairman of the Little Sioux Flood Committee, served on the Western Iowa Technical College Board from 1973 until 1982 and was the organizer and planner of the Review of Flags organization at Oak Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day. He enjoyed playing golf, spending winters in Florida and southern California and his summers at his lake home at the Iowa Great Lakes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lucille and his wife Daisy on March, 13, 2009.

He is survived by his five children; Margaret (Larry) Simmon of Springfield, Missouri; Richard (Bert) Boothby of Cherokee, Iowa; Barbara (Layne) Stratton of Alvin, Texas; David (Gigi) Boothby of Cherokee, Iowa; Ellie (Tim) Elsbury of Houston, Texas; grandchildren; Troy Simmon of Springfield, MO, Josh (Amber) Simmon of Greenwood, MO; Andrew Simmon and his life partner Jason Decker of Chicago, Illinois; Pete Boothby of Underwood, IA and his special friend Liz Dorland; Thomas R. "T.R." (Amanda) Boothby of Oak Ridge, North Carolina; Jill (Carle) Upshaw of Pearland, Texas; Abbey (Danny) Phillips of Alvin, Texas; Jennifer (Mike) Nixon of Cherokee, Iowa; Michael Boothby and his special friend Jill Wittrock of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Matthew Boothby and his special friend Samantha Cushman of Aurelia, Iowa; Megan and Sarah Elsbury of Houston, Texas; 20 great grandchildren, a sister Dian (Robert) Erdman of Cherokee, Iowa; two nephews and one niece, Steve (Mary) Erdman, Tim (Margie) Erdman, Deb (Bill) Mayer; step-daughter Kae (Howard) Soost of Hutchinson, Minnesota; several step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.