Thomas A. Louden

Thomas A. Louden, age 96 of Fairfield passed away Monday, September 28, 2015 at Jefferson County Health Center.

Per his wishes he has been cremated.

There will be a reception for family and friends in the basement at the First Presbyterian Church, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Friday, October 2, 2015. The Memorial service will be 2:00 pm, Friday, October 2, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Phipps officiating.

A private family burial of cremains will be at Evergreen Cemetery with Military rites.

Memorials may be made to the Greater Jefferson County Foundation or Fairfield Carnegie Museum. Cards and memorials can be mailed to: Dorothy Louden, 209 Southgate Circle, Unit C, Fairfield, Iowa 52556

Tom was born in Fairfield, Iowa May 5, 1919, the son of Antoinette M. and R. Roy Louden. He married Dorothy Walton Earley July 1, 1946 in Coffeyville, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons, Nancy Earley Leazer, of Kansas City, Antoinette Dodds (Jerry) of West Branch, Robert R. Louden (Mary Lorenzen) of Ames and Thomas W. Louden (Mary) of Fairfield; four grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1936, and attended the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He graduated with a B.A. degree in 1940 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1942. He was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1942.

He served in the U.S. Navy from July, 1942, until February 1946, when he was released to inactive duty with the rank of Lieutenant. His tour of active duty included twenty seven months of sea duty, all in the Pacific, with the Navy Amphibious Forces. It included the assault landings on Attu and Okinawa, and the occupation of Japan at Aomori.

He returned to Fairfield and formed a partnership with Roy Simpson, and engaged in the general practice of law until 1956, when he joined the Iowa Malleable Iron Co. for a short time. In 1957 he was named Secretary and General Counsel for the Louden Machinery Company. He was later also named Treasurer. In 1966 he accepted a similar position with Kast Metals Corp. of Keokuk and Shreveport, LA. Two years later he returned to Fairfield as C.E.O. of the Iowa Malleable Iron Company, where he remained until his retirement as President at the end of 1984. During these years he served on several other corporate boards.

During his career he was involved in various community and business related activities. He served on the Iowa State Board of Regents – a Board upon which his Father had also served. He was the Iowa Civilian Aid to the U. S. Secretary of the Army. He served on the Fairfield City Council, was City Attorney, Chairman of the first Planning and Zoning Committee, was on the Fairfield School Board, the Library Board, first president of the Greater Jefferson County Foundation, Director of the University of Iowa Alumni Association, member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club, President of the Iron Casting Society (a national foundry group), President Fairfield Manufacturers Association, Director of Iowa Manufacturers Association, Director of Iowa Taxpayers Association, President Fairfield Rotary Club, President Chamber of Commerce, Trustee BPOE 1192, and he was also an Advisory Board member for Iowa Area Community Colleges during their formation period.

He received the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Service Award in 1970; the Outstanding Citizen Award in 1980; and he was named to the Fairfield High School Wall of Honor in 2004.

On – line condolences can be made to the family at: behnerfh.com.