Walter C. Tomhave, 98

Published 10:43 am Friday, December 6, 2013

Walter C. Tomhave, 98, of Austin, Minn., died Dec. 2, 2013, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, Minn.

Tomhave

Tomhave

He was born Dec. 6, 1914, in Hager City, Wis., to John and Ella (Vagts) Tomhave. He attended rural schools in the area of Hager City and Red Wing, Minn. After school, he worked on his family’s farm and delivered milk around the Red Wing area and he participated in government work projects along the Mississippi River. He moved to Austin in 1939, where he began his 47 year career at the Geo. A. Hormel Company. On June 9, 1940, he married Alice Thompson. Shortly after their marriage they moved to a house near the packing plant that would be their home for 70 years where they raised two boys and entertained many visitors. They moved to The Cedars of Austin on Dec. 15, 2010.

During his early years in Austin, he played roles in community theater and radio drama productions. From an early age, he was a singer and used that talent for weddings, church services and special events until he was in his 90s. He trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior and became an active member of First Baptist Church where he participated in special music, taught a variety of Sunday School classes and served as a deacon and a trustee for several years. After his retirement he spent hours planting flowers, painting and doing other tasks that called for his patient attention to detail. He worked to maintain his lawn and flower gardens, even cultivating a few tomato plants for Alice although he disliked tomatoes in almost any form except catsup. Walt loved the outdoors. He enjoyed playing golf and bowling. He was a loyal sports fan, both rejoicing and suffering with the ups and downs of his favorite teams, whether it was the Austin Packers, the Vikings or the Twins. He enjoyed hunting ducks, pheasants, deer and turkeys especially with his sons or the young men who became his adopted sons. His community service included a 25-year stint as a member of the Police Civil Service Commission. Walt will be remembered as a servant of God, a loving husband and father, one who loved to tell a good story and a man of great loyalty and personal integrity.

He is survived by his wife of more than 73 years, Alice; two sons, Charles (Judith) Tomhave of Green Valley, Ariz., and William (Lois) of Moorhead, Minn.; six grandchildren: Jon(Kathy) Tomhave, of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Kim (Curtis) Stahn, of Wauwatosa, Wis.; Peter (Valerie) Tomhave, of Fargo, N.D.; Chris (Jean Sershen) Tomhave, of St. Paul, Minn.; Benjamin (Hanna) Tomhave, of Herndon, Va.; Aaron (Kindy) Tomhave, of Porter, Texas; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; close friends: Bob Devine and Jim Soderstrom, of Austin, and other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, John, Alfred, Leonard, Lewis, Wilfred, Victor and Harry Tomhave; five sisters, Esther Revoir, Harriet Tomhave, Alberta Johnson, Eleanor Arndt and Clara Lysaker.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Gary Terrill officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary in charge of arrangements.