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Thomas J. Foughty Obituary

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Thomas J. Foughty

Orange City, IA

October 29, 1956 - January 18, 2021

Thomas J. Foughty Obituary

Thomas James Foughty, age 64, of Orange City, Iowa, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021, after a confusing battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was surrounded in love by his wife and children when he passed. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 2:00pm, at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. The service can also be viewed on the American Reformed Church Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AmericanReformedChurch Tom was born on October 29, 1956 to Verald Rodney Foughty and Dorothy Mae (Staley) Foughty in Fort Dodge, Iowa. After graduating from Fort Dodge Community Schools in 1975, he went on to study business at Iowa Central Community College. Tom’s career began at an early age when he cleaned and broke down boxes for small local businesses in Fort Dodge. He shared fond memories of this first job and learned skills he carried on to JCPenney. Tom worked in just about every department across stores in Spencer, Iowa and Minot, North Dakota, and always spoke so fondly of his time with JCPenney. He made lifelong friends who recall Tom’s pride in his work and his positive spirit. In 1986, Tom moved to Orange City to work for K-Products, Inc. Shortly after moving, he began working at Harold’s Jewelry, and after a decade of learning the ropes, he and Sharon purchased the business in 1997 and renamed it Windmill Park Jewelers. Tom’s customers remember him as being helpful and generous. To him, the customer was always right no matter what, and he treated those who walked in the door with utmost respect and integrity. Aside from running the business, Tom was also involved in the Orange City Chamber of Commerce, acted as an Orange City Ambassador and President of the Chamber Merchants, and served as a deacon and member of American Reformed Church. His pride in his business and community was evident in his donning of the bright orange ambassador’s blazer and his insistence on shopping locally. In 1988, Tom met Sharon Lynne Amsberry, and they were married on June 16, 1990. Sharon considers herself lucky to have been married for 30 years to the one person on this earth who loved her the best. Tom & Sharon have five children, Renee O’Hara (married to Brent), McKenzie Kuiken (married to Michael), Claire Brewer (married to Jared), Brendan Foughty (married to Lauren), and Carter Foughty (married to Betsy). Tom also dearly loved his three grandchildren, Scarlett and Nina (daughters of Claire & Jared) and Hadley (daughter of Brendan & Lauren). Tom enjoyed filling his kids’ lives with laughter, from dancing and goofing around at home to playing catch, going for runs, and building a treehouse. He was always there to cheer on each of his kids through endless concerts, contests, dance recitals, races, and big life events. He was one of their greatest supporters. His family fondly remembers his inquisitive nature, which showed his true appreciation for the beauty and wonder of God’s creation around him throughout his life. Tom stopped working at the store in mid-2016 and in December of that year, was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, an illness that had taken both his mother and sister before him. Tom officially retired the following year and spent lots of time with his beloved therapy dog, Gina. He also enjoyed flexing his creative muscles during this time and found joy in recycling various objects into unique works of art. His appreciation for music also made its way to the forefront as his disease developed. Always a musical family, Sharon and the kids enjoyed listening to the oldies with him on his turntable, particularly throughout the last few years. Tom often recounted some of his favorite memories, including completing RAGBRAI, fishing at BugBee Hive Resort, and spending time at his sister’s apple orchard. He moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living Community in Sheldon, Iowa, in late 2018. After a year of driving to Sheldon for visits, the family was able to move Tom to Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. This allowed his family to visit much more regularly, which was such a blessing. With the onset of COVID-19, the facility had to stop in-person visits during much of 2020. The family continued to visit at his window, where his grandchildren enjoyed singing to him through the screen. On January 12, 2021, Tom was moved home to be cared for by his family. The family feels so honored to have had the privilege to surround him with love and care during this time, and to usher him through his final days and into the presence of Jesus, his Savior. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Verald “Bob” Foughty; mother, Dorothy (Staley) Foughty Hopponen; stepfather, Ray Hopponen; brother, Charles Foughty; and sister, Patty (Foughty) Palmer. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; children, Renee, McKenzie, Claire, Brendan, Carter, and their spouses; granddaughters, Scarlett, Nina, and Hadley; grandson, Clive; brother, Vern Foughty; sisters, Pearl (Foughty) Skewes and Bev (Foughty) Baedke; stepdaughter, Angela MacRae; and Renee and Angela’s mother, Patricia (Poncelow) Foughty. Tom will be forever remembered as a selfless, humbly proud, and relentlessly positive advocate for his community. His family will remember him as a goofy, inquisitive, loyal, encouraging, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother who gave the best hugs. A memorial fund has been established in Tom’s memory. His family plans to support high school seniors from MOC-Floyd Valley and Unity Christian High Schools with educational gifts on an annual basis. Contributions may be sent to Iowa State Bank in Orange City, directed to the “Tom Foughty Memorial Fund”. For more information about the fund, please visit tomfoughtymemorialfund.com.

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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Thomas J. Foughty.