Robert J Thomas, Jr. of Le Mars, Iowa, formerly of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully at Unity Point St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City on Friday, January 29.  Hospitalized due to several serious conditions a week earlier, he succumbed to congestive heart failure with his wife of fifty years by his side. He was 78.

A celebration of Bob's life event will be held in St. Louis at a later date. His wife asks that any memorial contributions be sent in his memory to Wet-Nose Rescue Inc., PO Box 454, Le Mars, Iowa 51031-0454. During the couple's regular trips to the St. Louis Zoo, Bob always expressed an ardent love of the animal kingdom, and his heart ached for those who suffered.

Born to Robert J Thomas, Sr. And Vera (Woods) Thomas in Cooter, Missouri on October 29, 1942, Bob spent most of his life in St. Louis where his family moved when he was a small child.  After graduating from McKinley High School there in 1960, he attended Harris-Stowe State College 1961-1963, and St. Louis University 1963-1965.  He then earned a J. D. in Law at the University of Memphis Law School, graduating in 1968. After that, he enjoyed his most productive times practicing law in St. Louis for nearly thirty years. In 1970, he married Joan Wendl, a former Le Mars, Iowa resident, who lived and worked in St Louis.

Following his retirement from the field of law, Bob worked at Bank of America 2000-2002, and then Border's Sunset Hills books until 2011 when the store closed.  A lifelong bibliophile, he relished the opportunity to recommend selections to store patrons.  A quintessential baseball purist, he religiously followed the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning with the days when he could ride his bike to old Sportsman's Park.  There, the Cardinals shared space with the former American League Browns.

In 2014, he moved with his wife to her hometown of Le Mars, Iowa, living there for the remainder of his life.  During those last years he came to treasure living in a smaller, rural area.  He often remarked about the kindness and consideration of everyone he encountered in Plymouth County. As his family originally hailed from rural Tennessee, he valued the slower pace of country living.

Bob had a wide variety of interests, and particularly enjoyed the game of chess.  During his last few years, he spent hours zealously working crossword and sudoku puzzles. He also continued to read books, mostly on his Kindle. His prized possession was his 1953 edition of Arthur C. Clarke's Across The Sea Of Stars. He also shared his wife's love of vintage movies, especially those of the science fiction and mystery genres. His own passion was for the old western flicks, especially those starring John Wayne. Most of all, he treasured his canine pal Sasha, a St. Bernard-German Shepherd mix that he and Joan adopted in St. Louis. Throughout their marriage, the couple adopted or rescued a number of dogs that came to be part of their family.

Robert is survived by his wife Joan (Wendl) Thomas of Le Mars; his neice, Melba Jean (Joe)Ward of Marshall, Arkansas; Melba's daughter, Jacqueline "Jackie" (Scott) Tumbleson of Marshall, Arkansas; Melba's son, Joe "Dale" Ward of Marshall, Arkansas; Dale's son Joe Dale "Crockett" Ward of Marshall, Arkansas; and a number of cousins and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J and Vera Thomas; his sister, Mattie Pearl Crockett; his brother-in-law, Jack Crockett; his father-in-law, Leo Wendl; his mother-in-law, Frances Wendl; his step mother-in-law, Alvina Wendl; his sister-in-law, Janice Wendl; his brother-in-law, Michael Wendl; his brother-in-law, Mark Wendl; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.