James Thomas (Tom) Mantonya died April 13, 2015 after a courageous fight against cancer. Tom was born on August 10, 1943 to Lewis Thomas and Alice Lee (Pierson) Mantonya on the Neosho River in Chetopa, Kansas. Tom attended schools in Chetopa and West Mineral, graduating from high school in 1961. He attended what was then known as the Kansas State College of Pittsburg before enlisting in the U.S. army in the 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of Marne) serving as an air traffic controller at Kitzingen Army Airfield in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1967.
Tom spent several years with the Frisco/Burlington Northern Railroad as a Brakeman. He was then employed by the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, Kansas, Airosol Incorporated in Neodesha and finally the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, retiring in 2009.
An avid outdoorsman, Tom would annually take trips to destinations such as Destin, Florida, Port Aransas, Texas and Homer, Alaska chasing game fish such as halibut, red snapper, grouper and ling cod. His true outdoor love though was in his own backyard, the Neosho River where he could often be found camping and setting trot lines. Tom was a 50 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 918 in West Mineral and served in a variety of offices during his membership. Tom was also a member of the Parsons VFW and the Cherokee American Legion and recently became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Parsons.
Tom is survived by his wife Norma Steffens (Lovie), of the home, a sister, Gayle Knight of Ozark, Missouri, a son, Kurt Thomas of Lincoln, Nebraska and a daughter, Amber Lee Vance of Oswego and five grandchildren.
Tom's ashes will be returned to the river and a celebration of life will take place 12:00 noon on April 25, 2015 at the West Mineral Eagles club.
Memorials are suggested to the West Mineral Eagles Club, F.O.E. 918 to establish a scholarship fund in his name. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tom Mantonya, please visit our flower store.
Tom spent several years with the Frisco/Burlington Northern Railroad as a Brakeman. He was then employed by the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, Kansas, Airosol Incorporated in Neodesha and finally the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, retiring in 2009.
An avid outdoorsman, Tom would annually take trips to destinations such as Destin, Florida, Port Aransas, Texas and Homer, Alaska chasing game fish such as halibut, red snapper, grouper and ling cod. His true outdoor love though was in his own backyard, the Neosho River where he could often be found camping and setting trot lines. Tom was a 50 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 918 in West Mineral and served in a variety of offices during his membership. Tom was also a member of the Parsons VFW and the Cherokee American Legion and recently became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Parsons.
Tom is survived by his wife Norma Steffens (Lovie), of the home, a sister, Gayle Knight of Ozark, Missouri, a son, Kurt Thomas of Lincoln, Nebraska and a daughter, Amber Lee Vance of Oswego and five grandchildren.
Tom's ashes will be returned to the river and a celebration of life will take place 12:00 noon on April 25, 2015 at the West Mineral Eagles club.
Memorials are suggested to the West Mineral Eagles Club, F.O.E. 918 to establish a scholarship fund in his name. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tom Mantonya, please visit our flower store.
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