Thomas A. Lemon, Sr.

Thomas Adolphus Lemon, Sr.

July 25, 1950 – February 1, 2024

Thomas Adolphus Lemon attended Omaha Public Schools and graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1968. During his high school days, he was active in JROTC, where he demonstrated his leadership skills as a member of the Color Guard throughout his entire high school career.
In 1968, Thomas met Gwendolyn Love at St. Mark Baptist Church in Omaha, NE, where they were both members. After high school graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps and went off to basic training in February of 1969. He was later deployed to Vietnam. Thomas proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 until 1971 when he was honorably discharged. He married Gwendolyn on June 19, 1971. This union produced two children. Daughter Whitney was born in August of 1972, and son Thomas, Jr. was born in December of 1976.
Thomas began his 36-year career at Kellogg’s Omaha plant in April 1972. He performed various duties from forklift operator to mechanic, welder, and oiler. While working full-time at Kellogg’s, he also became a small business owner. He and his wife, Gwendolyn, opened the first black-owned video store in North Omaha in the summer of 1980. They continued to serve North Omaha until an accidental fire occurred and they were forced to close the doors in the fall of 1988. At that time, both of them were members of Mount Calvary Community Church in Omaha where Thomas served on the Usher Board. Their love and commitment to one another lasted almost 28 years until Gwendolyn’s untimely death on March 22, 1998.
The 1968 All School 30th Class Reunion was held at Mahoney State Park in 1998, and it was well attended by graduates of Central, Tech and North. Thomas introduced himself to Millie Hodges-Tucker and they decided to have lunch together the next week. They dated and married the following year.
Thomas retired from Kellogg’s in 2007. He enjoyed retirement but after a while started looking for something else to do. He applied at Manpower to work at ConAgra Foods. He worked there for six years before retiring (again). After that, he chose to work for Home Instead Senior Care where he provided companionship and non-medical home helper services that allowed seniors to remain in their homes. He enjoyed this job for six years before retiring (again).
Thomas joined and remained an active member at Good News Church (7415 Hickory Street) since 2001. He served as usher, altar worker, on the prayer team, with the Men’s Prayer group, and with two traveling mission teams. He was a member of the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry and was an ordained Senior Chaplain and member of the International Fellowship of Chaplains. He was a member of the Jackson’s Bible Study group. He also served on the Deer Creek Fairways Villas Homeowners Board and the Omaha Kellogg Retirees Board.
Thomas loved vintage and muscle cars, cruising, traveling, playing golf, bowling, and walking with his good friend Wayne Crumbley.
Thomas Adolphus Lemon died from ALS and was called home by the Lord he loved so much on February 1, 2024, at the age of 73. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 28 years, Gwendolyn; his parents, Auburn and Claudine Lemon; his brother, Auburn Lemon; and his sister, Audrei Lemon-McGee. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 25 years, Millie; his daughter, Whitney Lemon-Lewis (Brian), Kansas City, MO; his son, Thomas Lemon, Jr. (Katrina), Omaha; his brothers, Robert Lemon, Gerald Lemon (Linda), Claude Lemon, Omaha, NE; his Aunt Ruby Hayden, Tuskegee, AL; his cousin, Ann Lemon, Oxnard, CA; his goddaughter, Nachele Murphy, Independence, MO; his step-daughters Elaine Tucker, Orlando, FL, and Charmaine Marie, Crowley, TX; his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.
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Thomas Adolphus Lemon was born July 25, 1950, to Auburn Lemon, Sr. and Claudine Harris Lemon in Aliceville, AL. He was the third child of six living children. He lived in Aliceville until the age of two when his parents relocated up north, settling in Omaha, NE in 1952.

VISITATION: Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at West Center Chapel.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 10:30 a.m. at Good News Church, 7415 Hickory St.

Interment, Mount Hope Cemetery.

To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.