GARRISON:  George Lewis Thacker Jr., age 70, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, with his loving family by his side.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, October 13, 2023, at Maplewood Cemetery in Vinton.  A reception will be held at the Geo G. Luckey American Post following the service.  In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Virginia Gay Respiratory Department.

George was born on October 1, 1953 in Carlsbad, NM, the son of George Lewis and Abby (Zahn) Thacker Sr.  The family moved to Vinton and George graduated from Washington High School in Vinton with the class of 1972.  George served his country in the United States Navy with the Seabees from 1972 through 1976.   On July 10, 1976, he was united in marriage to Cheryl Alpers at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton.

George worked at John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo for 34 years, retiring as a supervisor in January of 2016.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; son, Caleb (Kim) Thacker of Shellsburg; 2 grandchildren, Jalina Jo Thacker, Jaxon Thacker; sister, Sandra (Ron) Radcliffe of Hockley, TX; brothers-in-law Greg (Tab) Alpers of Bartow, FL; John (Denise) Alpers of Sioux Falls, SD; 4 nieces and 8 nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob And Abbie Lee; brother, Roy Thacker; his in-laws, Donald and Merle Alpers; and George Thacker Sr.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com