Thomas Clare McDermott, 80, of Oak Park Place, formerly of 2030 Key Largo Drive, died Friday, June 20, 2014.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 at 10 o’clock at St. Patrick’s Church, Dubuque, Iowa. The Rev. Monsignor Daniel Knepper will be the celebrant and Rev. Joseph E. McDermott will concelebrate. Entombment will be in Mt Calvary Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps. League. The wake will be held from 4- 7p.m., the preceding evening at Egelhof Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F.Kennedy Road where a wake service will begin at 4p.m.
Thomas Clare McDermott, the fourth son of Ambrose and Ruth White Kennedy McDermott, was born at Bankston, Iowa on August 14th, 1933. A few days later he was baptized by Father William A. Banfield at St. Clement’s, Bankston, Iowa. He began his grade school at St. Clement’s, Bankston, Iowa and continued it at rural country schools in the Farley and Worthington areas, graduating from eighth grade at Dutch Lane, Epworth Iowa in 1946. From 1941 until 1945 he attended Sacred Heart School in Fillmore, Iowa. His high school years from 1946 -- 1950 were spent at St. Paul’s Mission House, Epworth, Iowa and Holy Ghost Seminary, East Troy, Wisconsin. His years of novitiate 1950 - 1952 were spent at Techny, Illinois. From 1952 -1954 he once again returned to Epworth for his college courses before he went back to Techny for his Philosophy Training, 1954 -1956.
On March 15th, 1957, Thomas was inducted into the Army and spent the next two years in Panama.
Returning from the Army, he became employed as an Inspector at John Deere Works in Dubuque and worked there for 30 years, 1959 – 1989.
On May 12th, 1962 he married Erica Casares at St. Raphael’s’ Cathedral in Dubuque, Iowa.
For many years Tom and Erica lived at 2030 Key Largo in Dubuque, Iowa until moving to Oak Park Place five and one half years ago.
Thomas was an avid sportsman in many different areas. Perhaps he was happiest when he was chalking up a pool stick or maybe shooting a basket, but his enthusiasm and expertise on the baseball diamond, playing ping pong or tennis, throwing horseshoes or playing racquetball were just as impressive. Recently he concentrated on bowling and registered high scores along with his wife Erica, and Oak Park friends, Steve and Brad. 151 times he could boast of a perfect score of 300, quite an accomplishment when you have opponents like Monsignor Knepper and Doctor Hermann.
Added to his athletic skills were his academic talents. Endowed with a keen intellect, a deep understanding and a phenomenal memory, he was conversant on almost any subject.
Thomas was deeply involved in family history and extremely proud of his great grandparents James and Priscilla McDermott. In 2010 he undertook the task of erecting the present tombstone in their honor at the Garryowen Cemetery. Under his leadership some years earlier, the present tombstone for his parents and family was erected at St John’s Cemetery, Placid, Iowa.

Beyond the strong bravado of his character laid a deep concern for others. Many a time he was known to help a weaker student, to sit with a lonely senior citizen or to play cards with a shut-in. Deeply religious throughout his entire life, he never lost his love for the missions, as is so forcefully shown by the four mission chapels he and Erica built in the Serengeti Plains of Africa, Paraguay and the Philippines. He loved being chaplain’s assistant whether it was in Panama or at Oak Park. Though Erica and he had no children of their own, they delighted in adopting foreign babies to support and educate.
Thomas Clare was also a man of prayer who centered his entire day’s activities around the mass and personal relationship with God. He was a constant supporter of the Power of Prayer and one of its stalwart members for many years. His devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is quite evident in his request that the Entrance Antiphon, orations and prayer after communion as well as the Preface and Sequence and Readings be taken from the mass of Corpus Christi. This selection is unique and uncommon, but so was Tom.
Another one of Tom’s daily goals was to work on the cross word puzzle and to keep abreast of current events by reading the newspaper. His inquisitive, forceful and argumentative nature often got him into trouble, but he seemed too thrive on it all.
Thomas is survived by his wife Erica. Also by his sister Beatrice Soens(Richard),five, brothers,
Rev Joseph McDermott SVD , Patrick ( Patricia ), Michael all of Epworth, Iowa, Linus ( Shirley) of Cascade, Iowa and Camillus ( Maureen) of Manchester Missouri. Surviving also are many nephews and nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ambrose and Ruth McDermott, his father and mother in law Heinrich and Anna Casares, three sisters Mary Joan Ernst ( Marvin James ), Helen Ann Kraemer ( Donald), Frances Raab ( David),two brothers, Jerome James and Anthony William ( Mag),one sister in law Lois McQuillen ( Michael), one brother in law, Marvin James Ernst.
Tom’s wife Erica and all of Tom’s family wish to thank those who were so good to him throughout his many weeks, months and years of sickness. Especially to Dr. Hermann , for his loving care and friendship; to Monsignor Knepper and Sister Agnes for their visits and pastoral ministry; To all the angels from Hospice, especially Melissa: and to the persons from 24 hour care; as well as to all his friends at Oak Park, Thank You !
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com