Thomas J. Neasham

Tom Neasham, of Aurora, passed away on Saturday, October 19. He was 92. He died from complications of a stroke that he suffered in 2010. Tom was born to Ray and Ressa Neasham on February 26, 1921, in Ames, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Fourth Marines and participated in the invasion and battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. For most of his adult life, Tom was a proud employee of Standard Oil Company, later Amoco. He retired in 1984 as Assistant District Manager of the Denver office. In 1941, he married Mary Jayne Shoquist, who preceded him in death in 2002. They were married for 61 years, and their hometowns included West Des Moines, Iowa, Salt Lake City, Utah, Spokane, Washington, and Denver. Tom was a huge fan of the Denver Broncos. In 2003, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Roxanna Morse. They married, and she preceded him in death in 2004. In 2005, he fell for the last love of his life, Jessie Earp, of Aurora. They were partners and lived together for eight years. Jessie died this past June at the age of 89. Tom is survived by his sister, Marlyne Johnson, of Omaha, Nebraska (pictured with him below); son, John, of Sugarland, Texas (Kathy); daughter, Pat, of Seattle, Washington (Mary); four grandchildren – Craig Neasham (Stacy), Gail Saxerud (Mike), Michelle Cleckler (Jon), and Sarah Vasek (Joel); six great-grandchildren (Lily, Nick, Addie, Mae, Cohen, and Evan); and several wonderful nieces and nephews. He is also survived and loved by Jessie's family, which includes her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 28, 10:00 a.m., at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 1091 South Colorado Blvd., followed by burial at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National World War II Memorial Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, or to a charity of your choice.