Joyce Flora Thomas

Joyce Flora Thomas, 88, of Uniontown, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 3, 1932, in Hinsdale, Illinois, daughter of Paul Ernest Otto and Flora Hilda Bodenschatz Petschke. She and Robert Thomas were married August 15, 1959 at McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County, New Jersey. He survives. Joyce was a graduate of Hinsdale High School in Hindale, Illinois. She enlisted in the United States Air Force on Sept. 12, 1955 and was honorably discharged on November 9, 1959, during this time is when she met the love of her life, Robert. After the service she raised her children. Then went to work for the City of St. Louis until she retired. She enjoyed volunteering at Mercy Hospital at Mercy Jefferson in Fetus for 25 years. Loving survivors include her husband of 61 years, two sons, Caleb Thomas of St. Louis, Craig (Elizabeth) Thomas of Cape Girardeau, a daughter, Cathryn (Kirby) Klaus of Uniontown, six grandchildren, Heather Thomas, Robert Thomas, Reece (Lauren) Thomas, Maxwell Winchester, Dakota Thomas, Bailey Thomas, and Wesley (Sherry) Klaus, a brother, James (Joan) Petschke, and a brother-in-law, John E. Thomas. Also surviving are five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Kenneth Petschke, and two sisters, Edith Uhl, and Margaret Pfeiffer. A public visitation will be Friday, April 9, 2021 from 11 am until service time at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. The funeral service will be at 1 pm, at the church, with the Rev. Paul R. Winningham officiating. Interment will follow in Grace Lutheran Church Cemetery in Uniontown, with military honors. Memorials may take the form of contributions to Grace Lutheran Church Cemetery, 53 Grace Lane, Uniontown, Missouri 63783. Traditional gifts, cards and contributions may be sent to the family at McCombs Funeral Home, Inc. c/o Joyce Thomas, 640 West Independence Street, Jackson, Mo 63755.