In Memory of Keith Arnold Thurston
January 2, 1925 – September 7, 2017
Keith Arnold Thurston was born January 2, 1925 in Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, to Herman Wayne Thurston (1896-1942) and Mildred Genevieve Ringgenberg (1904-1984). On February 6, 1942 his father died from a heart attack. When he was a senior at Wilton High School he took over the “The Wilton Advocate Newspaper” owned and operated by his father, making Keith the youngest Editor/Publisher in Iowa. The Newspaper was sold one year later by his mother. On April 10, 1943 he enlisted in US Marine Corps. He became one of the first Norden bombsight-auto pilot technicians, which required FBI clearance. He also was classified an expert shooter of the rifle and machine gun; later becoming a machine gun squad leader. He was discharged July 4, 1946 from active duty making him a World War II Veteran.
After returning home to Wilton he married Dorothy Leven Zachmeyer on August 24, 1947 at Lutheran Church Rock Island, Illinois. Their first daughter Sherry Lynn was born March 8, 1948 and second daughter Geri Lea April 1, 1951. They were married 22 years when their divorce was finalized September 1969. In the early 1950’s during the Korean War he served as a rifle instructor for the US Army, was discharged of duties on May 2, 1951. He was asked to go active duty but decided to go home to his wife and children.
He spent his life working in the Printing Industry, working multiple weekly Newspapers in the State of Iowa and Illinois. He joined the International Typographical Union in October 1951. His last job in Iowa was at the University of Iowa located in Iowa City, Iowa. Family then moved to Modesto, California in October 1956, where he went to work as a Linotype operator for the Modesto Bee Newspaper. He retired from The Modesto Bee on December 31, 1986 with thirty years of service.
On October 2, 1969 he married Louise Marion Houx at Emanuel Lutheran Church Modesto, CA. They were married 44 years when Louise passed away April 15, 2014. Louise and Keith sold their home in 1987 and purchased a Motorhome, and traveled the US for twelve years having a home base in Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA. They also spent many winters in Yuma, AZ with Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA friends.
Through the years he was blessed with six grandchildren: Chris, Geri (Rothstein), Charles Jr Gaither, Derek, Keith, Doug LeCain. Ten great grandchildren: Amanda, Ashleigh, Simon, Brenden, Purity Gaither, Sidney Rothstein, Luke, Makayla, Collin, Lindsay LeCain.
Through the years he served the Union as a Vice President and President. He was also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO for thirteen years and Recording Secretary of the Stockton, Modesto Chapter Teamster Retirees. All together he served the Union over fifty years when he retired on December 31, 1986. He was also a standing member of American Legion and Sons in Retirement Incorporated Stanislaus Branch No. 103.
He is survived by his daughters Sherry (Bob) and Geri (Ray), six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, Sister Donna Birkhofer of Wilton IA and Brother Richard B. Thurston of Wilton IA. Burial will take place at the San Joaquin National Cemetery located in Santa Nella, CA 95322 with Military Honors on September 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
January 2, 1925 – September 7, 2017
Keith Arnold Thurston was born January 2, 1925 in Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, to Herman Wayne Thurston (1896-1942) and Mildred Genevieve Ringgenberg (1904-1984). On February 6, 1942 his father died from a heart attack. When he was a senior at Wilton High School he took over the “The Wilton Advocate Newspaper” owned and operated by his father, making Keith the youngest Editor/Publisher in Iowa. The Newspaper was sold one year later by his mother. On April 10, 1943 he enlisted in US Marine Corps. He became one of the first Norden bombsight-auto pilot technicians, which required FBI clearance. He also was classified an expert shooter of the rifle and machine gun; later becoming a machine gun squad leader. He was discharged July 4, 1946 from active duty making him a World War II Veteran.
After returning home to Wilton he married Dorothy Leven Zachmeyer on August 24, 1947 at Lutheran Church Rock Island, Illinois. Their first daughter Sherry Lynn was born March 8, 1948 and second daughter Geri Lea April 1, 1951. They were married 22 years when their divorce was finalized September 1969. In the early 1950’s during the Korean War he served as a rifle instructor for the US Army, was discharged of duties on May 2, 1951. He was asked to go active duty but decided to go home to his wife and children.
He spent his life working in the Printing Industry, working multiple weekly Newspapers in the State of Iowa and Illinois. He joined the International Typographical Union in October 1951. His last job in Iowa was at the University of Iowa located in Iowa City, Iowa. Family then moved to Modesto, California in October 1956, where he went to work as a Linotype operator for the Modesto Bee Newspaper. He retired from The Modesto Bee on December 31, 1986 with thirty years of service.
On October 2, 1969 he married Louise Marion Houx at Emanuel Lutheran Church Modesto, CA. They were married 44 years when Louise passed away April 15, 2014. Louise and Keith sold their home in 1987 and purchased a Motorhome, and traveled the US for twelve years having a home base in Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA. They also spent many winters in Yuma, AZ with Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA friends.
Through the years he was blessed with six grandchildren: Chris, Geri (Rothstein), Charles Jr Gaither, Derek, Keith, Doug LeCain. Ten great grandchildren: Amanda, Ashleigh, Simon, Brenden, Purity Gaither, Sidney Rothstein, Luke, Makayla, Collin, Lindsay LeCain.
Through the years he served the Union as a Vice President and President. He was also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO for thirteen years and Recording Secretary of the Stockton, Modesto Chapter Teamster Retirees. All together he served the Union over fifty years when he retired on December 31, 1986. He was also a standing member of American Legion and Sons in Retirement Incorporated Stanislaus Branch No. 103.
He is survived by his daughters Sherry (Bob) and Geri (Ray), six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, Sister Donna Birkhofer of Wilton IA and Brother Richard B. Thurston of Wilton IA. Burial will take place at the San Joaquin National Cemetery located in Santa Nella, CA 95322 with Military Honors on September 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
In Memory of Keith Arnold Thurston
January 2, 1925 – September 7, 2017
Keith Arnold Thurston was born January 2, 1925 in Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, to Herman Wayne Thurston (1896-1942) and Mildred Genevieve Ringgenberg (1904-1984). On February 6, 1942 his father died from a heart attack. When he was a senior at Wilton High School he took over the “The Wilton Advocate Newspaper” owned and operated by his father, making Keith the youngest Editor/Publisher in Iowa. The Newspaper was sold one year later by his mother. On April 10, 1943 he enlisted in US Marine Corps. He became one of the first Norden bombsight-auto pilot technicians, which required FBI clearance. He also was classified an expert shooter of the rifle and machine gun; later becoming a machine gun squad leader. He was discharged July 4, 1946 from active duty making him a World War II Veteran.
After returning home to Wilton he married Dorothy Leven Zachmeyer on August 24, 1947 at Lutheran Church Rock Island, Illinois. Their first daughter Sherry Lynn was born March 8, 1948 and second daughter Geri Lea April 1, 1951. They were married 22 years when their divorce was finalized September 1969. In the early 1950’s during the Korean War he served as a rifle instructor for the US Army, was discharged of duties on May 2, 1951. He was asked to go active duty but decided to go home to his wife and children.
He spent his life working in the Printing Industry, working multiple weekly Newspapers in the State of Iowa and Illinois. He joined the International Typographical Union in October 1951. His last job in Iowa was at the University of Iowa located in Iowa City, Iowa. Family then moved to Modesto, California in October 1956, where he went to work as a Linotype operator for the Modesto Bee Newspaper. He retired from The Modesto Bee on December 31, 1986 with thirty years of service.
On October 2, 1969 he married Louise Marion Houx at Emanuel Lutheran Church Modesto, CA. They were married 44 years when Louise passed away April 15, 2014. Louise and Keith sold their home in 1987 and purchased a Motorhome, and traveled the US for twelve years having a home base in Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA. They also spent many winters in Yuma, AZ with Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA friends.
Through the years he was blessed with six grandchildren: Chris, Geri (Rothstein), Charles Jr Gaither, Derek, Keith, Doug LeCain. Ten great grandchildren: Amanda, Ashleigh, Simon, Brenden, Purity Gaither, Sidney Rothstein, Luke, Makayla, Collin, Lindsay LeCain.
Through the years he served the Union as a Vice President and President. He was also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO for thirteen years and Recording Secretary of the Stockton, Modesto Chapter Teamster Retirees. All together he served the Union over fifty years when he retired on December 31, 1986. He was also a standing member of American Legion and Sons in Retirement Incorporated Stanislaus Branch No. 103.
He is survived by his daughters Sherry (Bob) and Geri (Ray), six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, Sister Donna Birkhofer of Wilton IA and Brother Richard B. Thurston of Wilton IA. Burial will take place at the San Joaquin National Cemetery located in Santa Nella, CA 95322 with Military Honors on September 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
January 2, 1925 – September 7, 2017
Keith Arnold Thurston was born January 2, 1925 in Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, Iowa, to Herman Wayne Thurston (1896-1942) and Mildred Genevieve Ringgenberg (1904-1984). On February 6, 1942 his father died from a heart attack. When he was a senior at Wilton High School he took over the “The Wilton Advocate Newspaper” owned and operated by his father, making Keith the youngest Editor/Publisher in Iowa. The Newspaper was sold one year later by his mother. On April 10, 1943 he enlisted in US Marine Corps. He became one of the first Norden bombsight-auto pilot technicians, which required FBI clearance. He also was classified an expert shooter of the rifle and machine gun; later becoming a machine gun squad leader. He was discharged July 4, 1946 from active duty making him a World War II Veteran.
After returning home to Wilton he married Dorothy Leven Zachmeyer on August 24, 1947 at Lutheran Church Rock Island, Illinois. Their first daughter Sherry Lynn was born March 8, 1948 and second daughter Geri Lea April 1, 1951. They were married 22 years when their divorce was finalized September 1969. In the early 1950’s during the Korean War he served as a rifle instructor for the US Army, was discharged of duties on May 2, 1951. He was asked to go active duty but decided to go home to his wife and children.
He spent his life working in the Printing Industry, working multiple weekly Newspapers in the State of Iowa and Illinois. He joined the International Typographical Union in October 1951. His last job in Iowa was at the University of Iowa located in Iowa City, Iowa. Family then moved to Modesto, California in October 1956, where he went to work as a Linotype operator for the Modesto Bee Newspaper. He retired from The Modesto Bee on December 31, 1986 with thirty years of service.
On October 2, 1969 he married Louise Marion Houx at Emanuel Lutheran Church Modesto, CA. They were married 44 years when Louise passed away April 15, 2014. Louise and Keith sold their home in 1987 and purchased a Motorhome, and traveled the US for twelve years having a home base in Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA. They also spent many winters in Yuma, AZ with Wilton, IA and Modesto, CA friends.
Through the years he was blessed with six grandchildren: Chris, Geri (Rothstein), Charles Jr Gaither, Derek, Keith, Doug LeCain. Ten great grandchildren: Amanda, Ashleigh, Simon, Brenden, Purity Gaither, Sidney Rothstein, Luke, Makayla, Collin, Lindsay LeCain.
Through the years he served the Union as a Vice President and President. He was also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO for thirteen years and Recording Secretary of the Stockton, Modesto Chapter Teamster Retirees. All together he served the Union over fifty years when he retired on December 31, 1986. He was also a standing member of American Legion and Sons in Retirement Incorporated Stanislaus Branch No. 103.
He is survived by his daughters Sherry (Bob) and Geri (Ray), six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, Sister Donna Birkhofer of Wilton IA and Brother Richard B. Thurston of Wilton IA. Burial will take place at the San Joaquin National Cemetery located in Santa Nella, CA 95322 with Military Honors on September 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
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