Obituary for Thomas "Tom" Lesnar
Thomas S. "Tom" Lesnar, 77, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Jenkins Living Center following a five-year battle with Alzheimer's.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at Holy Name of Jesus Church with Father Michael Wensing and Father Dan Smith as concelebrants. Music will be furnished by the Holy Name Choir, Angie Maag as soloist and Jane Jaspers as organist.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., with a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. and a rosary to follow on Tuesday, November 27th at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom's nieces and nephews.
Active Pallbearers will be his brothers: Tony, Bernie, Pete, Jerry, Ray and Joey.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, 4304 S Technology Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.
Thomas Stanley Lesnar was born on January 10, 1941, to John and Esther (Ewalt) Lesnar at the doctor's home in Waubay, South Dakota. He grew up on the family dairy farm and attended St. Joseph High School in Grenville, South Dakota, until the school burned down in 1957. Tom was a graduate of the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. In his early twenties, he started a livestock trucking business.
In 1973, while attending a wedding dance in Grenville, he met the love of his life, Elaine Hoffman of Lombard, Illinois. They were married June 15, 1974 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grenville. Following their marriage, they resided in Watertown where Tom worked for a lumber yard and then an animal feed company for several years. Tom always wanted to get "back on the road," so he bought a truck and restarted Lesnar Trucking, hauling livestock until he retired. Following retirement, he enjoyed going to the local sale barns, seeing his former customers, and buying cattle for them. Tom was the happiest when he was behind the wheel of his truck.
Tom was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Church and treasured his Catholic faith. He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus. Tom enjoyed watching professional baseball and football; he was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and the New York Yankees. He was able to see a Yankees/Twins game at Yankee Stadium with his brothers and nephews. Being the only Yankees fan of the group, he was especially excited when the Yankees won the game. Tom volunteered for the Immaculate Conception School paper recycling for many years.
Tom is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elaine; his sister Jo Maag of South Shore; his brothers, Tony Lesnar and Bernie Lesnar of Grenville, Bro. Reynold Lesnar of Cedar Lake, Indiana, Pete (Darlas) Lesnar of Bristol, Jerry (Darlene) Lesnar of Grenville, Ray Lesnar of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Joe (Evonne) Lesnar of Webster; his brothers-in-law, Tom (Becky) Hoffman of Cypress, Texas, Chuck (Becky) Hoffman of Effingham, Illinois, and Mike (Jill) Hoffman of Humble, Texas; 30 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews; and his friend of 44 years, Swede Spanton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, his sister-in-law, Shirley Lesnar, and his brother-in-law, Lowell Maag.
The family expresses their many thanks to the Country View Assisted Living staff for the care Tom received during his six months as a resident, the Jenkins Living Center staff during the last week of his life, and the care and compassion of Prairie Lakes Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at Holy Name of Jesus Church with Father Michael Wensing and Father Dan Smith as concelebrants. Music will be furnished by the Holy Name Choir, Angie Maag as soloist and Jane Jaspers as organist.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., with a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. and a rosary to follow on Tuesday, November 27th at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom's nieces and nephews.
Active Pallbearers will be his brothers: Tony, Bernie, Pete, Jerry, Ray and Joey.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, 4304 S Technology Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.
Thomas Stanley Lesnar was born on January 10, 1941, to John and Esther (Ewalt) Lesnar at the doctor's home in Waubay, South Dakota. He grew up on the family dairy farm and attended St. Joseph High School in Grenville, South Dakota, until the school burned down in 1957. Tom was a graduate of the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. In his early twenties, he started a livestock trucking business.
In 1973, while attending a wedding dance in Grenville, he met the love of his life, Elaine Hoffman of Lombard, Illinois. They were married June 15, 1974 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grenville. Following their marriage, they resided in Watertown where Tom worked for a lumber yard and then an animal feed company for several years. Tom always wanted to get "back on the road," so he bought a truck and restarted Lesnar Trucking, hauling livestock until he retired. Following retirement, he enjoyed going to the local sale barns, seeing his former customers, and buying cattle for them. Tom was the happiest when he was behind the wheel of his truck.
Tom was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Church and treasured his Catholic faith. He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus. Tom enjoyed watching professional baseball and football; he was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and the New York Yankees. He was able to see a Yankees/Twins game at Yankee Stadium with his brothers and nephews. Being the only Yankees fan of the group, he was especially excited when the Yankees won the game. Tom volunteered for the Immaculate Conception School paper recycling for many years.
Tom is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elaine; his sister Jo Maag of South Shore; his brothers, Tony Lesnar and Bernie Lesnar of Grenville, Bro. Reynold Lesnar of Cedar Lake, Indiana, Pete (Darlas) Lesnar of Bristol, Jerry (Darlene) Lesnar of Grenville, Ray Lesnar of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Joe (Evonne) Lesnar of Webster; his brothers-in-law, Tom (Becky) Hoffman of Cypress, Texas, Chuck (Becky) Hoffman of Effingham, Illinois, and Mike (Jill) Hoffman of Humble, Texas; 30 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews; and his friend of 44 years, Swede Spanton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, his sister-in-law, Shirley Lesnar, and his brother-in-law, Lowell Maag.
The family expresses their many thanks to the Country View Assisted Living staff for the care Tom received during his six months as a resident, the Jenkins Living Center staff during the last week of his life, and the care and compassion of Prairie Lakes Hospice.