Obituary for Thomas Stevens Sowers

Thomas Stevens Sowers Sr., 72, of Perry died peacefully from the effects of Parkinson’s on June 2, 2026, while in hospice care at The Perry Lutheran Home in Perry, Iowa. 

 A celebration of life is being planned for later this month, with details to be confirmed soon.  

Thomas was born in Berea, Ohio, on March 11, 1954. He later moved to New Jersey with his mother, Miriam (Davisson) Sowers, older brother, John and younger sister, Carrie. 

He was preceded in death by his brother, John Sowers; mother and stepfather, Miriam and Arnold Maarberg; his son, Joshua (Penny) Seymour; and his brother-in-law, Jimmy Probasco. He is survived by his wife, Juli Probasco-Sowers; sons, Tommy Sowers and Levi (Christina) Sowers; grandchildren: Zoe, Avanelle, Maddy and Emma; his sister, Carrie (Bob) Fehr; as well as his nieces and nephews in Tennessee and Iowa. 

While he was living in Ida Grove, Iowa, he met Juli Probasco while attending a friend’s wedding. They were married a year later.  They raised their combined family and lived in the same house in rural Perry for 43 years.  

Tom was a glaizer (glass worker) and a member of the Glaizer’s Union 558 out of Kansas City. He worked on tall buildings such as the 42-story One Kansas City Place building, and installed windows at the top of the Kaleidoscope at the Hub and other buildings in Des Moines. 

Tom also owned and operated Frog Creek Labs, breeding and raising registered Labrador retrievers one litter at a time from the early 1990s to as late as 2010. Thomas was also active in Pheasants Forever and the Iowa retriever club. He often volunteered his time to help with the retriever trials and to train dogs with other enthusiasts. Tom’s pride and joy was a dog named Kelley Girl, who earned the title of Master Hunter. 

Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around 2020 and as the disease progressed, he moved to the Perry Lutheran Home where he lived for the last year and one-half.