John Robert Thurston, Ph.D.

Ames

John Robert Thurston's soul passed to God on March 25, 2011. John died peacefully at age 84 in his bed at Northcrest Retirement Community in Ames, Iowa. John was born on May 06, 1926, in Maumee, Ohio. He grew up in Maumee along with older brothers Jim and Ed. He joined the Navy after High School and served as a Pharmacist third class in Pensacola Florida. After his WW II military service John attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he received a doctorate in Microbiology in 1955. While in Columbus John also worked at Battelle Memorial Institute, where he met his beloved wife Phyllis, whom he married in 1953. John, his wife, and two daughters moved to Saranac Lake New York in 1957, where John worked at a Tuberculosis Research Center, the Trudeau Institute. The Thurstons moved to Ames, Iowa, in 1961 where John was employed at the National Animal Disease Center until retirement. John had a productive career in microbiology research; he felt honored to work with many fine people.

Dr. Thurston was a truly kind person with a huge sense of humor, someone who always took the time to see and appreciate each individual, someone who was always ready with that wonderful grin. John was a gentleman, an athlete, and a scholar. He was not just tall in stature but tall in spirit - whenever his children felt lost in a crowd or in life they had only to look up to find the reassuring presence of their father's bald head shining above the crowd or to find his calm steady loving presence guiding them to a happy life. John had a sense of duty to community and church. He served three terms on the Ames city council and served on the planning and zoning commission. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church and was one of the Northminster Presbyterian Church members who literally built the church as well as contributing generously of his time and money. John had a long and happy marriage and was dedicated to family and friends. Always ready to learn and to enjoy, John especially treasured activities with neighbors, with a book club, and with the Golden K Kiwanis. A lifelong athlete who excelled at football and shot-put in high school, John spent many happy hours playing golf and achieved two holes-in-one during a single week; other favorite sports included sailing, tennis, swimming, and walking. John was an avid ISU fan who enjoyed attending ISU women's basketball games with daughter Carol. In his last years John was unfortunately limited in mobility, but his determination to dwell on the positives and possibilities in life rather than on his limitations inspired many others to do their best. Dad, Boppa, Grandpa, John, we love you and we miss you. You made the world a better, kinder place by simply being you.

John Thurston is survived by Daughter Carol Martin of Ames, Iowa, by Daughter Lisa Hotchkiss and Son-in-law Joel Hotchkiss of Austin, Texas, by grandchildren Jessica Martin and John Hotchkiss, and by friends and relatives united in love and fond memories. John was preceded in death by his parents, by cherished wife Phyllis Miller Thurston, by Brother James Thurston, and by Brother Edward Thurston.

A memorial service will be held on April 09 2011 at 1 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1416 20th St., Ames, Iowa, 50010. A family-only burial service for John's ashes will take place at a later time on April 9. Relatives have generously donated flowers for the memorial service. Further memorial contributions are requested in lieu of flowers, in John's name, to the following: Northcrest Foundation, c/o Northcrest Retirement Community, 1801 20th St., Ames, Iowa, 50010, or to Heartland Senior Services, Transportation Fund, 205 S. Walnut St., Ames, Iowa, 50010. Cards may be sent to the family via daughter Carol Martin at 4140 Eisenhower Ln. #2, Ames, Iowa, 50010.

Published in Des Moines Register on March 31, 2011