Bruce Thomas

LOCATION CHANGE FOR SERVICES:

Bruce Thomas, 70, of Algona, died Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Algona Manor Care Center.  Memorial Services will be 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Letts United Methodist Church.  Burial will be in Letts Cemetery.  A time of food and fellowship will follow at the Letts United Methodist Church.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. 

Bruce D. Thomas was an amazing human being who was loved and will be missed. The oldest son of Marvin and Margaret (Carman) Thomas, Bruce was born in Muscatine, IA, on April 19, 1955. He spent his early years on a dairy farm near Letts, IA, and later moved to the City of Letts. Bruce attended Louisa-Muscatine High School and was active in his community and was proud he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Following high school, Bruce attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL, where he received an undergraduate degree in Business. On August 2, 1975, Bruce married the love of his life, Sue Ann Schaper. In 1977, he graduated from the University of Iowa with dual honors in Business Education and Economics. He was then hired by the Corwith Wesley School System to be a business education instructor and coach. After three years with Corwith Wesley, Bruce accepted a job with Heartland Mutual Insurance Association in Algona, IA, where he held many positions. While working full time, Bruce obtained his master’s in business administration (MBA) from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall MN. In 2009 he served as NAMIC (National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies) Chairman across the US and Canada, as President of The Mutual Insurance Association of Iowa in 2019, he served on numerous committees on the state and national level. He was a Past Administrator of Algona Emergency Medical Servies (EMS) in Algona and was inducted into the Iowa Emergency Medical Servies (EMS) Hall of Fame in 2007. Bruce retired in 2020 as President and Chief Executive Officer for Heartland Mutual after more than 40 years with the company. He continued to work as Vice President.

With a long family history in the Masonic traditions, Bruce joined the Masons in 1980 in Prudence Lodge in Algona and soon after in Algona Chapter Order of the Eastern Star (OES). He served as Worthy Grand Patron in 2019 for Iowa Order of the Eastern Star and served as Grand Treasurer in 2024-2025 of The Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was a long serving member of The Des Moines Scottish Rite and Kossuth Shrine Club. Blessed to have many friends among the Sisters and Brothers of OES, and Masonic organizations, Bruce and Sue spent many happy times working and traveling with them. His favorite sports teams were the Green Bay Packers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and of course the Iowa Hawkeyes. Bruce’s hobbies included golf and target shooting as well as attending movies. He felt the popcorn was always the best at the theater!

Left to cherish his memory include his wife of more than 50 years, Sue, and son, Kraig, as well as sister Anita (Mike) Stineman, brother Melvin (Rita) Thomas and a host of aunts & uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Marvin & Margaret Thomas, infant sister Norma Lee, brother Jeff Thomas, Father-in-law & Mother-in-law Dwight & Leota Schaper, 2 brothers-in-law, Marvin McCulley and David Farnsworth.

Bruce tried to live by the motto that Every Day Is A Great Day with each day being filled with blessings. Psalms 118:24 that reads “Let us rejoice in the day the Lord has made and be glad in it” was not only his favorite scripture but his way of life.

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