Thomas Nelson Urban, Jr.

Des Moines - Tom was born on May 26, 1934 in Des Moines, Iowa to Helen Jones Urban and Thomas Nelson Urban. He succumbed to cancer on July 10, 2020 at Kavanagh House hospice in Des Moines surrounded by his family.

After an education that included Hanawalt Elementary, Roosevelt High, and Harvard University, Tom became the youngest Mayor of Des Moines in 1968, at age 33, and led the city in tumultuous times that echo even today. He dedicated his business life to Pioneer Hi-Bred, a company that was an anchor of the Des Moines community. As CEO and Chairman, he led Pioneer to become a leading force in agricultural progress in the country and the world, landing him in the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. Tom always believed Des Moines could set the standard for progress and be a city of continual renewal and rejuvenation. Most recently, he was one of the key drivers behind the renaissance of the Des Moines Botanical Garden. He showed his unfailing support of education through his board service at Simpson College and Concord Academy, and the establishment of the Urban Research Award at the Iowa Academy of Education. Tom contributed on a national scale, serving as the Chairman of the Carnegie Institution for Science and the National Tropical Botanical Garden and was a valued member of many other corporate and non-profit boards. His tireless public service and personal generosity resulted in much recognition by many organizations and individuals too numerous to list. While Tom was proud of his achievements, he was most at peace when reading, writing poetry and working in his beloved garden.

He is survived by his wife Mary Bright Urban, his children Vikki Broer, Nina Urban, Tom Urban III and Bill Urban, their spouses, and nine grandchildren, as well as his three younger brothers Tim Urban, Ted Urban and David Urban and their spouses, and many nieces and nephews. His younger sister Susan Horsey predeceased him. He will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he impacted during his 86 years.

Due to the pandemic, a celebration of Tom's life will be held at a later date. For those who wish to remember Tom in a special way, please consider a donation to the Des Moines Botanical Garden in his memory.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines Register from Jul. 11 to Jul. 12, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Urban

Sponsored by Iles Dunn’s Funeral Home.

18 Entries

Dr. Roberto Barreiro

July 5, 2025

I am forever grateful to the old Pioneer leaders for the learning opportunities they provided us. Tom was a gentleman and led the company with family values. He was respected by the Pioneer employees because of his actions.

Jim Hopf

July 5, 2021

Tom was a leader at Pioneer that all of us employees respected.

Beverly Davis

July 5, 2021

When I drive on Grand Avenue, I always look up to see the seasonal flower bouquet Tom and Mary always hung...and I smile because it is still there...remembering the quiet charisma of Tom and the beauty that remains, Mary.

Renee

July 21, 2020

RIP Mr. Urban! My condolences to you and your family

Tony fees

July 21, 2020

Just seen that Tom had passed, It saddens me. he was a great man, I would like to give my condolences to Mary Urban and the family. Tom was by far the most intelligent person I have ever met, he also was a person who taught by example he worked his gardens most everyday that he could, and work all day. If he wasnt working he was reading a book!

Beverly Davis

July 16, 2020

Sending my heartfelt sympathy to Mary, Tom III and all of the wonderful Urban family for your loss. With his wide ranging intellect, creative sensibilities, community largess and business acumen, Tom was a natural born leader and excelled at lifting up others, including me with my entrepreneurial zeal with more energy and ideas than business know-how. When I showed him my first business plan for his input, he asked politely, Where are the cash flow projections? I shrugged my shoulders and said, What are cash flow projections? He looked at me calmly and said, Youll find out soon enough. And, of course, I did. What a prince of a man. I saw him first when he was quelling a racial protest in 1968 speaking quietly with Evelyn Davis and a few other Black leaders. I was a kid reporter still in high school. I never forgot either Tom or Evelyn as our lives would cross many years later when I became a journalist. He left the world a better place and ran his race in his own way and how lucky I am for having known him a little.

Roberto Barreiro

July 16, 2020

Tom was a true inspiration for those who worked at Pioneer. Admirable human being, who taught many of us how to conduct ourselves in business and in life following the Long Look principles. He will be missed. Thank you Tom for taking care of the Pioneer family during your tenure.

Todd Blodgett

July 14, 2020

I first met Mr. Urban in 1981, at the Outing Club in Clear Lake, where his family and mine were members. My Dad and Tom played many, MANY games of Tennis on the club court, and our families had many mutual friends, many of them from Des Moines.

During the 1980s, we had some very entertaining political discussions, several of which centered around the 1984 US Senate race in Iowa, between the GOP incumbent, Roger W. Jepsen, and his challenger, then-US Rep. Tom Harkin!

Despite our political differences, Mr. Urban was always decent, fair-minded, and a true gentleman; he genuinely believed, adamantly, in the right of everyone to his or her opinion, and was consistently respectful to those whose views differed from his own.

It's been many years, now (at least 25), since I've seen him, but he wasn't the kind of man who'd ever be forgotten by anyone who knew him. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Urban, Tommy, and to the entire Urban family.

May this good, brilliant man rest in peace.

Zach (nephew)

July 14, 2020

Tom lived many lifetimes. As a child I always knew his words rang true when he spoke, even though I was scared of him. His quiet way of listening was something I will always remember and try to emulate. A generous man who will not be forgotten.

Dennis Bidney

July 14, 2020

Tom would appear at the office door or the lab from time to time just to see what was going on. I was proud to be a part of the Pioneer under his leadership. He once referred to the knowledge and genetic resources Pioneer was developing as a sacred trust for a world in need. I knew him as a grand gentleman and a leader worth following.

Manuel Coronado

July 14, 2020

I had the privilege to work at Pioneer under Tom's charismatic leadership; I admired him profoundly and have very fond memories of those years.
My condolences to T.U. III and the entire Urban family.

Garry Jackwitz

July 14, 2020

Your contribution to Pioneer and our individual lives will be your legacy always.

Steven Briggs

July 13, 2020

It makes me happy to remember Tom and his boundless enthusiasm. He was an optimist and strong-willed so everyone around had to be an optimist, too. He lifted us all up because we suddenly envisioned solutions when forced to be optimistic. Like many, I knew Tom as a work colleague at PHI. When Tom stepped up to be CEO he had large shoes to fill and he knew it. His predecessor was also a remarkable leader and a great scientist at a time when the seed industry was being transformed by the advent of recombinant DNA technology. Tom bit into this challenge with every tooth and he quickly won over the breeders and biotechnologists with his genuine interest in research and his excitement about what change could mean for the company. Farmers, shareholders, and employees all benefited from Toms hard work and wisdom. His approach to people and organizations was imprinted on me and it wasnt until many years later that I realized how special Tom was, and how special PHI was. I think this happened many times over as Toms human goodness and professional excellence planted seeds in the minds and hearts of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who then were more able to make contributions to the world. When he talked about the Long Look it was a real code of values that defined the relationships between us and the farmers who fed the world. When he talked about Return on Equity, I didnt really get it but I knew it was important and Tom told all of us how we could each make it happen. Tom had cancer back then and he faced therapy with good cheer and stylish bandanas to protect his newly bald head. What a great model he was. Im sure that was even more so for his family. Im so grateful for having been within his sphere of influence where I became a better person and a better leader. Fly free, Tom!

Bill Niebur

July 13, 2020

Tom changed the professional and personal trajectories of the lives he touched.... I will always hold him as the leader that we all would like to emulate...

Lowell Schardt

July 13, 2020

My condolences to the Urban family. Tom was the right leader at Pioneer Hi-Bred at the right time. He had a huge positive impact on us all.

Beda Realuyo

July 13, 2020

I will always remember Tom as the first President and Chairman of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc who paid a visit to Indonesia in 1991 when I was the Country Manager and President of Pioneer's subsidiary P.T. Pioneer Hibrida Indonesia. After my business presentation, he sent me a very personal note commending me for having a good grasp of the opportunities offered to Pioneer and the Indonesian small corn farmers. That appreciation inspired me and my team to grow the business very profitably.

James Hopf

July 12, 2020

Tom was a great mentor to me in my early days as a Pioneer Hi-Bred District Sales Manager in North Carolina in the mid 1970's.

Carey & Scott Witmer

July 12, 2020

To the entire Urban familyI am so sorry for your loss. I hope your memories provide comfort to you all.

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