Mark W
Well-known member
It is with a heavy heart and listless soul that I share the news of Tom's passing. He died, peacefully, and with his family around him late last night.
I met Tom at the very beginning of the DBHF inception. Tom, Jim Reinke and Mike Fischer would gather twice/year to catch up and the share the love of the sport we called duck hunting. Our fist gathering was at my house and I sure hope I still had the pictures. I'll look for them later. Tom came with several of his boats in tow behind his camper. He was very proud of what he had built and shared the many stories of his youth growing up in Ortonville MN - a very small town in the prairie pothole region of MN. Outside of the summer gatherings, we would meet about 50 miles north of the cities in the winter and ice fish together. I remember one time in particular when Dave McCann joined us. It had to be -500 deg. F the night before we were to meet and Dave drove up and slept on the ice in the bed of his pick up if I recall correctly. I do remember it being so cold the beer had to be kept in the cooler to prevent it from freezing. Also remember Tom pulling out his 4 wheeler to pull his gear across the ice. The darn thing wouldn't start. Naturally with Tom being a small engine teacher at the local community college, I had to give him all kinds of crap about how his stuff wouldn't run and wondered aloud what kind of teacher he was - and so on and so on....... Well that got him motivated and while he could have easily driven onto the ice in his truck, he was bound and determined to get the 4 wheeler running which he did.
The past few years Tom would meet up with the crew I was a part of out around Lake Traverse which is on the extreme western edge bordering South Dakota.. He always preferred to solo hunt rather than hunt with our group but he always mad it in to have dinner and beers with us on Saturday evening. My buddies enjoyed his company and knowledge.
I don't have many pictures on my computer ut do have this one of Tom. Back in the day I was bound and determined to make a mini mud motor out of a weed whacker engine. I was having some issues where I needed to machine a couple of parts and didn't have the tools to do so. I gave Tom a call and he opened up his school shop and met me there on a weekend. Sure enough, he had the tools, knowledge and skill to make the parts I needed. With him, I got that motor running and still own itto this day, along with several others that were built from what was learned on this first one.
While I am saddened to see Tom leave us, it was time for him to go. He would not have enjoyed being a burden on his family and sure wasn't the sort of guy to enjoy being in the state he was in at the end. He loved his dogs and called them his kids all the time. He lost a few over the years I've known him and frequently spoke of the rainbow bridge when others on this site lost their dogs. I don't know much about this bridge but am certain Tom's prior companions were there to eagerly welcome him home.
Godspeed my friend.
View attachment Tom2.jpg
I met Tom at the very beginning of the DBHF inception. Tom, Jim Reinke and Mike Fischer would gather twice/year to catch up and the share the love of the sport we called duck hunting. Our fist gathering was at my house and I sure hope I still had the pictures. I'll look for them later. Tom came with several of his boats in tow behind his camper. He was very proud of what he had built and shared the many stories of his youth growing up in Ortonville MN - a very small town in the prairie pothole region of MN. Outside of the summer gatherings, we would meet about 50 miles north of the cities in the winter and ice fish together. I remember one time in particular when Dave McCann joined us. It had to be -500 deg. F the night before we were to meet and Dave drove up and slept on the ice in the bed of his pick up if I recall correctly. I do remember it being so cold the beer had to be kept in the cooler to prevent it from freezing. Also remember Tom pulling out his 4 wheeler to pull his gear across the ice. The darn thing wouldn't start. Naturally with Tom being a small engine teacher at the local community college, I had to give him all kinds of crap about how his stuff wouldn't run and wondered aloud what kind of teacher he was - and so on and so on....... Well that got him motivated and while he could have easily driven onto the ice in his truck, he was bound and determined to get the 4 wheeler running which he did.
The past few years Tom would meet up with the crew I was a part of out around Lake Traverse which is on the extreme western edge bordering South Dakota.. He always preferred to solo hunt rather than hunt with our group but he always mad it in to have dinner and beers with us on Saturday evening. My buddies enjoyed his company and knowledge.
I don't have many pictures on my computer ut do have this one of Tom. Back in the day I was bound and determined to make a mini mud motor out of a weed whacker engine. I was having some issues where I needed to machine a couple of parts and didn't have the tools to do so. I gave Tom a call and he opened up his school shop and met me there on a weekend. Sure enough, he had the tools, knowledge and skill to make the parts I needed. With him, I got that motor running and still own itto this day, along with several others that were built from what was learned on this first one.
While I am saddened to see Tom leave us, it was time for him to go. He would not have enjoyed being a burden on his family and sure wasn't the sort of guy to enjoy being in the state he was in at the end. He loved his dogs and called them his kids all the time. He lost a few over the years I've known him and frequently spoke of the rainbow bridge when others on this site lost their dogs. I don't know much about this bridge but am certain Tom's prior companions were there to eagerly welcome him home.
Godspeed my friend.
View attachment Tom2.jpg
