Dona Johan Thomas

DONA JOHAN THOMAS, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 23, 2013. She was born in Wheatland, Wyoming on August 7, 1924. Her husband of 59 years, Dallas D. Thomas, passed away in 2001. She was also preceded in death by her parents, John G. Marzel and Sarah Kimberley Marzel of Torrington, Wyoming; her two sisters, Hermina Schwanz and Kathryn Kenyon Zirkle; her daughter Johan Kay Darnall of Denver and her grandson, Chad Brenner Lewis of Colorado Springs. She is survived by three daughters, Sara Lynn Thomas and Laurie Carson of Colorado Springs, Barbara Jeanne Kolstad of Park City, Utah, 21 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. While growing up in Torrington, Wyoming, Dona was known for her singing. She was a Past Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 20 at Torrington, and she graduated Valedictorian of her high school in 1942. She met her future husband, Dallas (aka Tommy) in Torrington where he was assigned Army recruiting duty. After graduation, Dona moved to Washington D.C. to work for The Panama Canal before she and Tommy got married at Camp Polk, Louisiana in October of 1942. They had a typical military life, moving frequently, living in Louisiana, Oregon, California, Arkansas, Germany, Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana. They were able to call Colorado Springs their final home when they were stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado in 1954. Dona’s husband retired from the military in 1958 and became Manager of the Broadmoor Golf Club while Dona spent her time raising their four daughters, keeping busy as a Girl Scout leader for seven years, a Sunday school teacher and as a Choir Director and Member of Honor of Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 9 in Colorado Springs. She also loved golf, camping and fishing and the family spent many weekends at her favorite place, a small mountain cabin with two fishing lakes near Deckers Colorado. Dona was a lady of strength and character, with a kind and generous heart and a strong faith. She was a member of Broadmoor Community Church for almost 50 years. She was also a member of the Broadmoor Ladies Golf Association until her husband’s death in 2001.

Services are to be held on Tuesday, October 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Broadmoor Community Church at 315 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, with burial at Fairview Cemetery after the services.