White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Brandon – Thomas L. Donley, 87 years old, of Brandon, Iowa, died on Friday, March 10, 2017, at the V.A. Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa.  He was born on February 23, 1930, in Benton County, Iowa, the son of Robert Harris and Nita Marie (Langham) Donley.  He attended country school in Harrison Township of Benton County, Iowa.  On May 11, 1952, he and the former Charlotte Mae Roster were married in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  She preceded him in death in 2016.  During the Korean Conflict, Mr. Donley served in the U.S. Army.  After completing his term of service, he was a maintenance worker and machine operator for the Illinois Central Railroad before retiring in 1990.  He also was an auctioneer, an electrician, and a plumber.  Mr. Donley was a member of the American Legion in Mt. Auburn, and the V.F.W. in Independence.  For 44 years, he was a member of the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department.  He was also a member of the Central Iowa Police in Shellsburg, and was a Buchanan County Deputy Sheriff.

Mr. Donley is survived by 3 sons, Dave Donley of Cedar Rapids, and Duane Donley and Dennis Donley, both of Brandon, Iowa, 3 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by 2 sisters, Marlias Woods of Vinton, Iowa, and Lillian Donley of Arizona, and 2 brothers, Bobby (Pat) Donley of California and Donny (Evelyn) Donley of Center Point, Iowa.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, Annabell Sullivan and Beulah Vest, and 3 brothers, Merle Donley, LaVan Donley, and Rex Donley.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at the Brandon United Methodist Church in Brandon, Iowa, with Rev. Lexie Kirkpatrick officiating.  Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery south of Brandon.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, March 13^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.