Albert E. Thacker, Jr.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Albert E. "Sonny" Thacker Jr., 85, of Milford, Iowa, formerly of South Sioux City, died Wednesday, July 27. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church in South Sioux City. Burial will be 9 a.m. Saturday in Omaha Valley Cemetery, rural Homer, Neb. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a Masonic prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Online condolences may be posted at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Albert was born Aug. 22, 1925, in Sioux City, the son of Albert E. Thacker Sr. and Margaret Thacker. He was a graduate of South Sioux City High School and Morningside College in Sioux City. A veteran, Albert was appointed to the Maritime Academy and served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. He married Corrine F. Sterne on June 16, 1946. During his career he operated several family businesses in South Sioux City, including Soo and State Theatres, the 7T7 Drive-In Theatre, Thacker's Roller Rink and Thacker's Marine Center. He was active in local civic organizations, including Kiwanis and the Sioux City and South Sioux City chambers of commerce. He was a founding member of Port of Sioux City Rivercade Association. He served on the South Sioux City School Board for nine years, serving as president for five years. He was a member of Morningside Masonic Lodge, Sioux City Scottish Rite, Abu Bekr Shrine and Laura Chapter 301 Order of Eastern Star. During his retirement, he moved to the Lake Okoboji, Iowa, area and worked as pilot of the Village Princess Yacht. He was well known in the Iowa Great Lakes as "Captain Al." He was active in the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce. He was honored as a University of Okoboji Winter Games cheerleader. Survivors include four children, Cynthia Hernandez and Stephanie Stewart, both of Milford, Christine Reed of Green Valley, Ariz., and Brett (Nancy) Thacker of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy Bianchini of South Sioux City. He was preceded in death by his wife, Corrine; and his parents. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Todd Avila, Robby Stewart, MG Stewart, Joshua Stewart, Wade Reed and Albert E. Thacker IV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Captain Al's name to Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum, 243 W. Broadway St., Arnolds Park, IA 51331.