Four employees of Two Rivers Marketing, a Des Moines, Iowa-based marketing company, died in a twin-engine plane crash Nov. 13 in La Porte, Ind.
Victims were Tom Dunphy, 41, of Clive, Iowa, who helped found the company in 1999; Eric Jacobs, 31, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Josh Trainor, 23, of Des Moines, who both worked in information technology; and Leslie O’Bannon, 27, of Des Moines, an account executive.
“We lost four Two Rivers Marketing family members, and we are greatly saddened,” a Two Rivers spokesperson said. “Words cannot express how much these individuals meant to us as friends and teammates, and among them was a leader and mentor, Tom Dunphy.
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the husbands and wives, a fiancee, parents, children and other family members who we know are grieving the loss of loved ones. We are still somewhat stunned from the news, but we know Tom and the others would have urged us to try and maintain our poise and go on, as difficult as that may be. As we steadily pull through this together, our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this terribly tragic time.”
Tom Dunphy was born April 11, 1965, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Ron and Dottie Dunphy. He grew up in Creston, Iowa. In addition to his wife Dana, and sons Austin (15), Brian (8) and Henry (5), Tom is survived by his parents, his brother, Todd of Creston; his grandmothers, Rose Sondgeroth of Carroll, Iowa, and Naomi Dunphy of Creston; and numerous family members.
Dunphy led Two Rivers Marketing from its modest start with 14 employees to its current successes with more than 60 employees.
In his spare time, Dunphy was a board member and vice-chairman of the Special Olympics of Iowa. He was set to become chairman in 2008. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Des Moines Children and Families of Iowa, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Funeral services for Dunphy were held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, Iowa, Nov. 18.
Memorials can be directed to St. Boniface Catholic Church, Special Olympics or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Eric Jacobs is survived by his wife and four sons.
He was the information technology leader of Two Rivers Marketing.
Funeral Services for Jacobs were held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Iowa, Nov. 18.
Memorials can be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ankeny Christian Academy or the fund “Eric’s Memorial Savings Fund for Heather Jacobs” at Veridian Credit Union, 1201 South Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, IA 50023.
Leslie O’Bannon (nee Van Hemert) is survived by her husband John and 19-month old daughter Gabrielle “Ellie”; her parents Russ and Caryn Van Hemert of Pella, Iowa; her brother, Jonathan; and her sister Brittany Van Hemert.
O’Bannon was an account executive of Two Rivers Marketing for four years.
Funeral services for O’Bannon were held at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa, Nov. 18.
Memorials can be made to Nicaragua Christian Academy or Christian Reformed World Missions (C.R.W.M.) or the Gabrielle O’Bannon Trust Fund.
Josh Trainor was engaged to be married. He is survived by his fiancee.
He was an information technology specialist of Two Rivers Marketing for two years.
Funeral services for Trainor were held at Buck Creek Church in Sumner, Iowa, Nov. 18.
Two Rivers Marketing also has established a memorial fund. Contributions can be donated to Families of Two Rivers Marketing Memorial Fund c/o MetaBank 4848 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322.
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