Thomas E Hughes

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive 
North Mankato, MN 56003 
507-388-2288

Thomas “Tom” E. Hughes

After having the time of his life riding motorcycles and enjoying dear friends, Thomas (Tom) Edward Hughes, 80 of Mankato passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in South Dakota due to injuries sustained in a single motorcycle accident that occurred on Saturday, August 4, 2018.  He was comforted by his family and the sound of his granddaughter’s laughter as he joined his wife, Eva Mae Hughes to continue their travels on a golden highway created just for them. 

Tom is remembered as a wonderful, fun and sweet man that loved to laugh and spend time with family and friends.  He had a quiet, thoughtful side that was not always easy to understand and a strong sense of doing things the right way. 

As the oldest son of a large family, Tom has been the rock that his siblings needed through good times and bad.  He attended as many family gatherings as he could, no matter the distance.  He just made himself at home and engaged everyone in his unique sense of humor. 

Tom was a high school graduate from Mapleton, MN, joined the Army and then worked as an over the road truck driver to provide for his family of 6.  His children have many fond memories of trips with their father in the Old Grey Mare Kenworth; vacations in the station wagon and motorhome.  The family enjoyed camping with an incredible group of families known as the Sun Chasers who have plenty of stories to tell about Tom’s abilities to cook over an open campfire….in the rain. 

Jeff, Greg, Laura, Joseph, Paul and Christine were blessed to experience his generosity, strength and loving support.  These are some of the most important traditions he was able to instill that are being passed on to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

This outgoing, open soul has thrived in his retirement, making new friends around the country.  Friends that saw him through his final days with so much compassion and hope for a speedy recovery so they could resume the great times they shared.  Instead, the family and friends that have preceded him in death have welcomed him home for an eternal visit of playing cards, talking smart and laughing until it hurts. 

Preceded by his wife of 51 years, Eva Mae Benedict Hughes, beloved son, Paul; parents, Harvard and June Hughes, siblings, David Hughes and Barbara Hughes.  

Survived by 5 children: Jeffrey (Teresa Gillis) Hughes and Greg (Gail) Hughes of Mankato, Laura (Terry Nowels) Dorudiani of Colorado Springs; Joseph (Sheila) Hughes of Janesville and Christine Hughes of La Crosse, WI; 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; 5 Siblings: Chuck (Barbara) Hughes, Cathy Evans, Jim Hughes, Janet Hughes, John (Valerie) Hughes, Mary (Don) Buckentin; his loving nieces and nephews and cherished cousins. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday August 25, 2018 at the Northview-North Mankato  Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato.  Visitation with luncheon on site will start at 11am until service at 1:30pm. Burial will be at Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Mankato. Tom will be carried to his final resting place by motorcycle. Riders are welcome to join for the processional, kickstands up at 2:30pm.