Thomas Alfred Wyatt

Thomas Alfred Wyatt, 80, of Eldridge, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. A Celebration of Life will be held locally at 4:00 on Monday, June 16th at St. Ann's Catholic Church Great Hall, in Long Grove, Iowa. A second Celebration of Life will be held at Goosey’s in McIntire, Iowa on June 28 at 2 pm. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be gifted to the Mitchell County Conservation Board.

Tom was born to Howard and Marcella Wyatt on December 12, 1944, in Riceville, Iowa. Tom married Karen Rose Recker in October of 1968 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista, Iowa.

After graduating from high school in Riceville, he joined the Navy, serving honorably for three years aboard the Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier. Following his military service, he embarked on a 22 year career with UPS, followed by 25 years as an owner-operator with Warren Transport.

Tom dedicated his life to the conservation of land and wildlife. He leaves a legacy of the family farm on which he made improvements, raised buffalo, and recently restored the lake his father and father's friends developed as a beloved community social spot known in Tom's childhood as the Pine Lake Sportsman's Club. Tom gifted Wyatt Fen Wildlife Area, 38 acres south of McIntire, Iowa, to Mitchell County Conservation as an opportunity for others to enjoy the great outdoors.

Those left to honor Tom’s memory include his wife, Karen Wyatt, and their two daughters, Kelly Wyatt and Terry (David) Behm; grandchildren, Lauren Behm, Cal Behm, Kendall Behm, Jillian Dircks, and Danielle Dircks. Tom is also survived by his siblings, Hazel Smith, Ben (Diane) Wyatt, and Mary Ann (Larry) Sweeney, many nieces and nephews, and other loved family members and friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Marcella Wyatt, his brothers Pete Wyatt and Jerry (Dorothy) Wyatt, former sister in law Nancy, and former son in law Stacey Dircks.