Thomas "Tom" Waters

Rock Rapids, Iowa Thomas Tom Waters age 55 of Bishop, CA, formerly of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, August 03, 2011 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial service will be held Friday, August 5, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids with Fr. Jeff Schleisman officiating. Visitation will be Friday morning from 10:00 AM to the hour of service at 11:00 AM with family present at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Thomas Patrick Waters was born November 24, 1955 in Omaha, NE to Patrick and Beverly (Bauerkemper) Waters. From 1956 to 1964 Tom lived with his parents in Atlantic, IA. The family then moved to Rock Rapids where he graduated from Central Lyon High School in 1974. Tom continued his education at SDSU where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He later received his MBA from The University of Nevada in Reno. From 1979 to 1985 Tom lived in Pierre, SD and worked for the South Dakota Highway Dept. He then moved to the west coast and spent the next 26 years in Nevada and California. Most recently he was working with Caltrans (California Dept of Transportation). Tom truly loved nature and enjoyed many outdoor activities. He enjoyed rock climbing, snow skiing, hiking, mountain climbing and running. When he was a younger man in Iowa, he liked to hunt and fish. This past Wednesday, Tom passed away after a short but courageous battle with cancer at the age of 55. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his parents, Patrick and Beverly Waters of Rock Rapids, IA; sister, JoBeth Cook and her children, Kristen and Ryan all of McCook Lake, SD; niece, Meghan (Adam) Rozell and their son Grady of Elk Point, SD. Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents.