Thomas H Spence Sr.
d. July 29, 2012
Thomas H Spence Sr.
Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
Thomas H. "T.H." Spence Sr., age 87, of Mankato, began his eternal life on Sunday, July 29, 2012, in Shakopee.
Memorial service will be 4:00 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2012, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Petersen officiating. Private family interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. In lieu of flowers, Tom would be pleased if memorials were made to the Mayo Clinic Foundation For Ovarian Cancer Research, c/o Bob Giere (In memory of Emily and Tom Spence), Mayo Clinic Dept. of Development, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905. Mankato Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Tom was born on January 30, 1925, in La Crosse, WI. He was the son of Elbert "Bert" and Lucille "Daisy" (Bucher) Spence. A patriot, he left high school to enlist in the Navy in WWII. Tom served as an aviation machinist and also drove semis transporting aircraft and live munitions. He was part of the US occupying force in Japan, delivering medical supplies in Nagasaki 10 days after it was bombed. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, Tom received his GED and graduated with a BS degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin " Whitewater. Tom married Emily Kroner in 1948. He began his career as a salesman for the Spence-McCord Drug Company and became a successful branch manager for Twin City Wholesale Drug Company. Tom ultimately owned two of his own businesses, including a dry-cleaners and an A&W restaurant. He also worked for Equitable Life Assurance, Professional Systems of Mankato, taught at the Mankato Business College, delivered coaches for Winnebago Industries, and was a driver for Heintz Toyota. He was actively working until age 85. Tom was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Tom was a dedicated family man and enjoyed spending time with Emily and their three children, Thomas Jr, Timothy, and William. Tom enjoyed playing golf, having taken up the game at age 40. He played regularly with his friends and family and played to a five handicap while carding two Holes in One. He was also a talented wingshooter who spent weekends during the season hunting with his sons. Tom enjoyed hunting until he was 86 years old.
Tom is survived by son, Thomas Jr. (Cindy) of Venice, FL; daughter-in-law, Mary (Robert) Kitchenmaster of North Mankato; son, William (Mary) of Shakopee, MN; eight grandchildren, Thomas III, William, Natalie, Tami, Timothy Jr., Kate, Daniel, and Emily; and seven great-grandchildren, William Jr., Jay, Amelia, Alexander, Colin, Brody, and Sebastian; and also many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Tom in death were his father and mother; brother, William; son, Timothy in 1983; and his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Emily in 1998.
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
Thomas H. "T.H." Spence Sr., age 87, of Mankato, began his eternal life on Sunday, July 29, 2012, in Shakopee.
Memorial service will be 4:00 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2012, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Petersen officiating. Private family interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. In lieu of flowers, Tom would be pleased if memorials were made to the Mayo Clinic Foundation For Ovarian Cancer Research, c/o Bob Giere (In memory of Emily and Tom Spence), Mayo Clinic Dept. of Development, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905. Mankato Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Tom was born on January 30, 1925, in La Crosse, WI. He was the son of Elbert "Bert" and Lucille "Daisy" (Bucher) Spence. A patriot, he left high school to enlist in the Navy in WWII. Tom served as an aviation machinist and also drove semis transporting aircraft and live munitions. He was part of the US occupying force in Japan, delivering medical supplies in Nagasaki 10 days after it was bombed. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, Tom received his GED and graduated with a BS degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin " Whitewater. Tom married Emily Kroner in 1948. He began his career as a salesman for the Spence-McCord Drug Company and became a successful branch manager for Twin City Wholesale Drug Company. Tom ultimately owned two of his own businesses, including a dry-cleaners and an A&W restaurant. He also worked for Equitable Life Assurance, Professional Systems of Mankato, taught at the Mankato Business College, delivered coaches for Winnebago Industries, and was a driver for Heintz Toyota. He was actively working until age 85. Tom was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Tom was a dedicated family man and enjoyed spending time with Emily and their three children, Thomas Jr, Timothy, and William. Tom enjoyed playing golf, having taken up the game at age 40. He played regularly with his friends and family and played to a five handicap while carding two Holes in One. He was also a talented wingshooter who spent weekends during the season hunting with his sons. Tom enjoyed hunting until he was 86 years old.
Tom is survived by son, Thomas Jr. (Cindy) of Venice, FL; daughter-in-law, Mary (Robert) Kitchenmaster of North Mankato; son, William (Mary) of Shakopee, MN; eight grandchildren, Thomas III, William, Natalie, Tami, Timothy Jr., Kate, Daniel, and Emily; and seven great-grandchildren, William Jr., Jay, Amelia, Alexander, Colin, Brody, and Sebastian; and also many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Tom in death were his father and mother; brother, William; son, Timothy in 1983; and his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Emily in 1998.
Guestbook
Visits: 15
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
