Allen Clyde Thomas
Allen Clyde Thomas, 87, of Council Grove, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon, January 30, 2026, at the Morris County Hospital.
He was born September 23, 1938, on the family farm SE of Dunlap, KS, the son of Clyde Allen and Edith Ora (Mallory) Thomas. The family moved to Toledo, KS, when he was 18 months old and a year later to their home 5 miles west of Americus. He attended Fruitland Rural School west of Americus. He started school at Americus and when the family moved to Alta Vista, KS, he finished his schooling there, graduating from Alta Vista High School. He ventured to Montana to work on a water power dam project and after 14 months on that job he returned to Alta Vista. He joined the Kansas National Guard and on February 4, 1958, he entered the United States Army. He served in the Army until January 18, 1960, serving a year and a half of that overseas. He returned to Alta Vista and on May 27, 1960, he and Nancy Jo Grimmett were married at her mother’s house in Council Grove. They became the parents of four children and were later divorced. Allen worked on the construction of the Council Grove High School, worked construction at Fort Riley, worked on a farm near Toledo for a short time, and then was employed at Burton Standard Service in Council Grove for 3 years. He drove a Rainbow Bread Truck, farmed in the Council Grove and Alta Vista areas, and worked at J.W. Manufacturing in Virgil, KS, building horse trailers. In 1971 he returned to Council Grove and operated a service station, worked in the oil fields, and finished his working years on the C.H. White & Sons Ranch, retiring in 1999. After retiring he worked at the Herington livestock auction for 15 years.
On April 30, 1985, Allen and Connie Kay Bowman Downes were married in Council Grove.
Allen and Connie were members of Pleasant Ridge Christian Church north of Council Grove until it closed then started attending the Wilsey Christian Church. They were inseparable and enjoyed doing many things together, especially attending rodeos.
Allen loved spending time with his grandchildren and when the great-grandchildren came along he was there to see them any chance he had and thoroughly enjoyed those times.
Connie, Allen’s wife of more than 35 years, preceded him in death on August 11, 2020, following a tragic accident. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Rex Dean Thomas; a son-in-law, Dean Forsberg; grandson, Chad Thomas; granddaughter, Sierra Forsberg; and two brothers, Eugene John Thomas and Donald Thomas.
He leaves his children, Allen Dale (Jeanine) Thomas of Belvidere, Charles Olen Thomas of El Dorado, Nanette Lynn Forsberg of Burdick, Charles Robert (Cheryl) Downes of Council Grove, and Cindy Kay (Lane) Jones of Burlington;10 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren 7 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Dale Thomas, Park City; many other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of the Life of Allen Thomas will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Wilsey Christian Church in Wilsey, KS.
The family will greet friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wilsey Christian Church and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.