Thomas Leroy Dawson, age 86, of Norwalk.  Visitation for Family & Friends will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 2nd at the Wakonda Christian Church in Des Moines.  A luncheon will immediately follow services with burial following in the Norwalk Cemetery.

To share an on-line condolence with his family; send flowers/plants/gifts to the service please select the "send tributes/flowers" tab on this screen.  You may also order by calling O'Leary's Flowers direct at (515) 981-0700 or www.olearyflowers.com

Thomas' Family & Friends Tribute Page and live-stream feature [if available] is here for everyone to share memories and stories by following this link.

On September 12, Thomas Leroy Dawson passed away peacefully at the home that he built and had lived in for 48 years. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Tamara (John) Shockley of Maplewood, MN, and Victoria (Ron) Herman of Runnells, IA, son Brian Dawson, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Tom was born November 27, 1934, in Des Moines, IA, to Herbert and Clara (Stark) Dawson. In 1962, he married Patricia Mcvay in Chicago, Illinois. In 1966, he moved with his family to live the rest of his life in Norwalk, Iowa.

Tom began his long career in the painting and decorating business while still a teenager, painting enormous signs and tall towers, climbing to heights that would put many people in a panic. He ultimately started his own business, Quality Painting Company and Army Post Construction Company. In addition, he started one of the first handyman services in the Des Moines area, Big Dan the Handyman. He earned a reputation for providing work of the highest quality. He mentored his son, who carried on the business after Tom retired.

Among Tom’s passions was hunting for antiques and attending flea markets, where he found many worn out pieces of furniture that he brought back to life. In the same workshop where he transformed his finds into treasures, he also created items from scratch, such as his delightful wheel barrel planters. He loved to travel, and he never met a stranger. His happiest moments in leisure may have been those spent in his music room. The instruments changed over the years and included keyboard, accordion, dulcimer, guitar, and harmonica. He had the gift of being able to play by ear.

Tom placed his family above all else, and they will miss him dearly.