Thomas Brian Kammer
April 4, 1958 — September 22, 2016
Thomas Brian Kammer
Thomas B. Kammer, 58, of Mankato, Minnesota, formerly of Cresco, Hazleton, and Oelwein, Iowa, passed away peacefully on September 22nd, 2016 following a battle with Pancreatic Cancer.
Tom was born in Clinton, Iowa on April 4th, 1958 to Robert E. and Betty I. (Snell) Kammer. He graduated with the class of 1976 from Oelwein High School and received his BA in Business Management from The University of Northern Iowa in 1982. Tom was united in marriage to Brenda Van Horn on February 4th, 1978 in Independence, Iowa. They made their home in Hazleton, Iowa. Tom was President of United Farm Tools, Speedy Division in Oelwein and served on the Hazleton City Council. He was past President of the Oelwein Area Snow Huskies snowmobile club, a Little League coach, and served on the Bishop’s Committee for Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church. In 1986, the family moved to Cresco, Iowa where Tom was Vice President and General Manager of Seedorf Masonry Industries, Pallet Division for many years. Tom was a member of the Iowa Wood Industry Association, past President of the Cresco Industrial Development Committee and a Cub Scout Leader. He eventually discovered the wonderful world of education at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa where he was a Business Consultant and Process Improvement Trainer. In 2010, Tom began his career at South Central College in Mankato also as a Business Consultant and Process Improvement Trainer. He was Chairman for the American Society for Quality Education, board member for Mankato Area Quality Council, and a board member for the Regional Center for Entrepreneur Facilitation. Tom had a very strong work ethic and maintained many lasting relationships with co-workers. Tom began a long musical career as a drummer and singer for many bands in the Oelwein area from the age of 10. Many lifelong friendships have been maintained due to his love of performing. He viewed each and every bandmate as his brother or sister to the end. His musical career was culminated by a benefit in his honor known as Kammerstock in Oelwein on December 12th, 2015. He was completely blown away by that event and was so happy to be on that stage playing drums again for what was to be his final performance. Tom’s greatest wish since his diagnosis was to spend one more summer at his beloved summer weekend home of 16 years at Sandbar Beach Resort in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He died on the first day of Fall. He got his wish. The people of Sandbar are his second family and the lake is where he found his peace.
Tom is survived by his wife of 38 years, Brenda; 2 sons, Michael (girlfriend Ela) of Krakow, Poland, and TJ (Laura) of Saint Paul, Minnesota; 1 daughter, Kelli (Justin) Milbrath of Mankato; 2 grandsons, Guy Gatena of Mankato, Minnesota and Landon Schlangen of Cresco, Iowa. Tom is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Barb Van Horn of Independence, Iowa, Peggy Van Horn of Caledonia, Minnesota, and Pam Wenzel of Dubuque, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Rob (Laura) Van Horn of West Union, Iowa, and Randy (Judy) Van Horn of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; cousins, nieces, nephews, and many cherished friends.
Welcoming Tom in the afterlife are his parents, Bob and Betty Kammer; brother, Edward Kammer; brothers-in-law, Burt Van Horn, and Jules Wenzel.
Arrangements are being handled by Mankato Mortuary, 1001 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 56001. 507-388-2202. Tom’s final wishes were to be cremated and to forgo any formal services.
The Kammerstock event was the icing on Tom’s cake and he felt so very blessed to have been able to attend and see so many people he loved. Tom preferred instead that everyone raise a glass, whether it be Coffee, Gin, or “Pond Scum”, for a moment of silence and toast a life well lived. Memorials may be made to the family to benefit an organization to be determined or to the Educational Foundations of either Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa or to South Central College of North Mankato, Minnesota to fund a scholarship for a student pursuing a career in manufacturing or business. Cards may be sent to the family at 1573 Mourning Dove Path, Mankato, MN 56001
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