Thomas Tusha

Thomas “Tom” A. Tusha, 61, passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, Mason City. Having been blessed with renewed life through a kidney transplant, Tom deeply understood the power of donation. In his passing, he continued that legacy by giving the gift of life through eye, skin, and tissue donation.

 A visitation will be held from 4:00–7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025, with a Rosary at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Scriptural Wake Service at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave. North, Clear Lake, Iowa. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tom’s memory.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. South, Clear Lake, Iowa, with Rev. Josh Link officiating. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, Duncan, Iowa. The service will be live streamed on St. Patrick Catholic Church website.

Tom was born on March 18, 1964, in Britt, Iowa, to George and Darlene (Dornbier) Tusha. He grew up on the family farm, enjoying life with his two brothers, and graduated from Garner Hayfield High School in 1982. He continued his education at NIACC in Mason City and earned a degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University. Tom began his professional career with a brief stint in insurance sales, before transitioning into seed sales.

On September 29, 1990, Tom married Teri Castle at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa. Together, they started their family in Indianola where they had two sons, Tanner and Tucker, who were the joy of his life. In 1998, the family moved to West Des Moines, where Tom began working for several companies and sharing his knowledge and passion for agriculture with those he served. Most recently, he worked for Brevant Seeds in the role of Retail Business Manager.

Tom loved watching his sons grow, whether on the little league field, the football field, or riding dirt bikes together. He was a Certified Crop Advisor and served as past president of the Iowa Seed Association. He was an active and devoted parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church and recently became a member of the St. Patrick Parish Council.

He was known for his soft-spoken nature, kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. With a welcoming spirit and a heart of gold, Tom was always willing to help others, often described as someone who “would give the shirt off his back.” 

Tom loved boating, tailgating, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones. He treasured the memories of watching his son Tanner play at Jack Trice Stadium. Tom and Teri enjoyed traveling to visit Tucker in Colorado and taking family trips to the Ozarks. Tom also loved driving farm machinery, his favorite being the 806.

 Tom generously volunteered in research studies at Mayo Clinic for nearly 30 years, hoping to help improve the lives of those living with PKD.  A remarkable moment came just weeks before his passing, when he received a kidney transplant on October 29, 2025, from his niece, Ellen Castle. The transplant was successful, and doctors described it as a beautiful kidney—a testament to the love and generosity within his family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Teri; sons, Tanner and fiancé Jess Olson, Tucker; step-mother, Mary Lou Tusha; mother-in-law, Barb Castle; brothers, Tim (Ellen)Tusha, Ted (Christa)Tusha; sisters and brothers-in-law, Tammy (Michael) Flanigan, Holly Brezina, Bill (Kathy) Castle, Travis (Lori) Castle, Ryan (Lora) Castle; step-siblings, Gerald (Trisha) Formanek, Dean (Tami) Formanek, Larry (Carolyn) Formanek, Greg (Julie) Formanek, Jane (Marvin) Ricke; aunts and uncles, Miki (Mark) Killin, Sally Hejlik, Rose Dornbier, Rosemary Snyder, Patty Trupp, Diane (George) Carpenter, Don Castle; along with 33 Nieces and Nephews, numerous cousins and many friends. 

Tom is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, sister-in-law, Cathlyn Tusha; nephew, Jonathan Tusha and his father-in-law, Bill Castle.

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