West Branch, Iowa Kenneth “Chief” Floyd Thomas, 85, died Friday November 4, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday November 9, 2011 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 7 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the West Branch Cemetery. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Special fund to meet the needs of West Branch student athletes. Kenneth Floyd was born April 5, 1926 near West Branch the son of Harold “Bus” and Catherine Krouth Thomas. He was a graduate of West Branch High School in the Class of 1943. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Army. On August 26, 1950 he was united in marriage to Lorene Thompson. He had worked, operated or was owner of several West Branch business’, some were Standard Oil Gas Station, Thomas Brothers Gas and Coal Station, Skelly Gas Truck Driver, Super Value Grocery Store, Village Center Hardware, Clothes and Furniture Store, Oasis Grain Elevator, Gower Farms, Chief Feed and Grain Elevator. He was a member of the CAVE Club and Chauncey Butler American Legion Post #514 of West Branch. He enjoyed playing euchre, was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and West Branch Bears Fan where he was honorary co-captain in 2009. Chief enjoyed traveling to Colorado and the Snowy Range in Wyoming. He especially enjoyed his family and grandchildren. He was the 3rd baseman with the West Branch Merchants Fast Pitch softball team for 20 years, he reminisced about West Liberty’s Fourth of July tournament where it was once announced over the loud speaker of a lost little boy whose dad was named Chief. He was honored as West Branch’s Grand Marshall in the Hometown Days parade in 2010. Survivors include his wife Lorene of West Branch. 4 children: Mark (Jeanette) Thomas of West Branch, Iowa, Mindy Nash and her fiancé Dale Slach of West Branch, Marcia (John) Wombacher of West Branch and Michael (Jody) Thomas of Iowa City. Brother: Phillip (Ruthann) Thomas of Cedar Rapids. 11 Grandchildren: Michael L. Thomas, Nicholas T. Nash, Nathaniel M. Nash, Zachery Em. Thomas, Michael K. Thomas Marcus A. Thomas, Marisa E. Stout, Kayla L. Nusbaum and J.J. Wombacher, Keely and Lindsay Stacey. 11 great grandchildren: Olivia, Ashlynne, Madelyn, Hope, Emmersen, Gatlin, Carter, Hunter, Caleb, Teague and Ty. Also surviving is Wayne Frauenholtz who has been close to the Thomas family for many years. Nephew Scott Thomas of Claremore, Oklahoma, Tom Bryson of Northville, Michigan and Niece Dixie Collins of Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents.